Randhawa masters field at halfway mark

Singapore, Mar 9 (UNI) When the going got tough, Jyoti Randhawa raced ahead of the rest mastering the notorious Masters course with a stolid four-under 68 for a one-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the 1.1 million dollar Singapore Masters here today.

Tied third overnight, there was no stopping Randhawa and the seasoned Indian mixed seven birdies with three bogeys for his four-under thus taking his two-day aggregate to 11-under 133 -- a stroke clear of Scot Barry Humes who overcame a last-hole double bogey for three-under 69 on the same course.

The opening rounds are split over two layouts-Classic and the more demanding Masters. The weekend action will take place only on the traditional Masters course of the par-72 Laguna National Golf and Country Club.

After his sizzling seven-under opening round, Randhawa sustained the momentum gaining two strokes on the first three holes.

Back-to-back birdies on the sevnth and eighth were followed by a bogey but Randhawa managed to make the turn with three-under.

With three birdies and two dropped strokes, Randhawa's backward journey was a bit more eventful. In fact his bogey on the 17th hole cut down his lead to just a stroke.

Meanwhile, it was an off day for most other Indians in the fray.

Gaurav Ghei could muster only two-under 70 on Classic course but managed to move up to tied eighth spot with an aggregate of six-under.

Rahil Gangjee's 68 lifted him up to tied 24th but Jeev Milkha Singh (73) went over par to slip to a lowly tied 54th spot.

The rest namely SSP Chowrasia (72), Amandeep Johl (71) and Shiv Kapur (77) fell by the wayside.

UNI