Atwal, Chopra miss cut at Deere Run Classic

Chicago, July 14 (UNI) Arjun Atwal and Daniel Chopra's challenge at PGA Tour's John Deere Classic event in Silvis, Illinois came to a premature halt as both missed the halfway cut.

Atwal failed to cash in on his third place finish last weekend at Legend Financial Group Classic, carding a dismal one-over 72 for a two-day aggregate score of an even par 142, to finally squander the chance of progressing to weekend action.

Overnight tied 56th, the Orlando-based Indian pro reeled off five birdies but spoilt the show by dropping three bogeys and a double-bogey negated the advantage he gained with the birdies.

Unlike the opening round, Atwal began and ended the day in identical fashion -- with a bogey -- as he dropped bogeys on the first and the 18th holes after starting from back nine.

Meanwhile, Indian-born Swede Chopra, who practised in the Delhi Golf Course during childhood, also had a forgettable day, managing one-under 70 to just miss the cut by a single stroke.

Chopra failed to improve on his overnight tied 76th spot, firing in five birdies compared to the four bogeys to bow out of the contention in the PGA Tour event.

Atop the leaderboard, Australian Nathan Green wielded a hot putter rolling in eight birdies in a bogey-free round (8-under 63) to seize a one-stroke lead over Sweden's Carl Pettersson and American Jason Dufner.

Last weekend's third place finish was Atwal's best finish in the year in both PGA and Nationwide Tours thus far, with the previous best -- a tied 6th -- coming at Livermore Valley Wine Country Championship at Wente Vineyards in April.

Relegated from the prestigious PGA Tour last year, Atwal was forced to play the Nationwide Tour this season. Everything went wrong for the 33-year old as he was involved in a high-speed crash in Georgia in March that saw him escaping by the skin of his teeth even as a fellow driver lost his life.

Atwal missed five cuts in a row at the PGA Tour before finally surviving the axe at the Buick open.

UNI