Ormsby in top gear at Panasonic Open India

New Delhi - Australia’s Wade Ormsby cranked up the pressure on the chasing pack when he posted another five-under-par 67 to extend his advantage to two after the second round of the $300,000 Panasonic Open India Friday.

Ormsby’s two-day total of 10-under-par 134 meant that Singapore’s Lam Chih Bing, who had earlier taken the morning lead, slipped to second place after he carded a 69 at the Delhi Golf Club.

India’s S.S.P. Chowrasia continued to stay in touch with the leaders after he matched his opening day efforts of a 69 to take third place alongside Thai veteran Boonchu Ruangkit.

The 33-year-old Australian showed insatiable appetite when he got off the blocks quickly with two birdies in his opening three holes. He birdied the eighth hole but dropped his only shot of the round on the par-four nine before reaching the turn in 34. Ormsby then made three more birdies on holes 13, 16 and 18 to put himself in a good position for his maiden breakthrough on the Asian Tour.

“There were lots of cross winds and it was tricky to try and keep them in the fairways. I just have to keep doing what I’ve been doing. My short game was fantastic today and hopefully that continues,” said Ormsby.

Meanwhile, Lam knows he has to stay focused to grind out a victory.

“I’m very happy to be where I’m. It certainly wasn’t easy out there today. I felt I played solid. It was a disappointing finish but three-under for today is a very good score,” added the Singaporean.

Starting on the back-nine 10th, the 36-year-old looked set to be cruising home but stumbled home with two bogeys on his closing eighth and ninth holes.

Chowrasia kept up his chase for his third Asian Tour win after carding another 69 under swirling wind conditions. The Indian did not start off convincingly as he bogeyed his par-three 12th, but he responded with birdies on holes 14 and 15. After turning in 32, Chowrasia parred the next four holes before making further birdies on holes five and eight.

“I played fairly well and two successive three-under rounds is alright in these conditions as they are more difficult than normal. I was also happy with a couple of good par saves on sixth and ninth. That kind of a save also gives you confidence. It was quite windy and with the directions and speed changing, it became very challenging and tough at times,” said the 34-year-old.

The weekend cut was set at five-over par with 68 players making the cut.

Scores after Round 2 (a – denotes amateur):

134 – Wade Ormsby (AUS) 67-67.

136 – Lam Chih Bing (SIN) 67-69.

138 – S.S.P. Chowrasia (IND) 69-69, Boonchu Ruangkit (THA) 70-68.

139 – Shiv Kapur (IND) 71-68.

140 – Richard Lee (CAN) 72-68.

142 – Digvijay Singh (IND) 71-71, S. Chikarangappa (IND) 72-70, Siddikur (BAN) 71-71, Jay Bayron (PHI) 70-72, Amardip Malik (IND) 71-71.

143 – Gulfam (IND) 71-72, Anura Rohana (SRI) 71-72, Sam Brazel (AUS) 71-72, Anirban Lahiri (IND) 71-72, Chiragh Kumar (IND) 70-73.

144 – Sanjay Kumar (IND) 70-74, Harendra P. Gupta (IND) 72-72, Adam Groom (AUS) 70-74, Kieran Pratt (AUS) 67-77, David Lutterus (AUS) 71-73.

145 – Hsu Chia-jen (TPE) 73-72, Manav Jaini (IND) 75-70, Jyoti Randhawa (IND) 73-72, Abhijit Chadha (IND) 78-67, Rajesh Rawat (IND) 73-72, Ajeetesh Sandhu (IND) 71-74, Jeev Milkha Singh (IND) 72-73, Matthew Stieger (AUS) 71-74, Lionel Weber (FRA) 70-75, Shankar Das (IND) 72-73, Angad Cheema (IND) 70-75.

146 – Anthony Choat (AUS) 75-71, Elias Bertheussen (NOR) 75-71, Pawin Ingkhapradit (THA) 78-68, Carlos Pigem (ESP) 76-70, Rahil Gangjee (IND) 73-73, Panuwat Muenlek (THA) 71-75, Koh Deng Shan (SIN) 71-75.

Selected scores:

151 – Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) 76-75

160 – Oliver Wilson (ENG) 78-82.