Bhullar zooms into lead, Jeev cards 63

Bangkok, May 19 

Experienced golfer Jeev Milkha Singh turned the clock back with a flawless eight-under 63 while Gaganjeet Bhullar carried on the momentum with a five-under 66 to grab a share of the lead at the halfway stage of the USD 300,000 Thailand Open here today.

Bhullar and young Thai Rattanon Wannasrichan shared the lead at 11-under 131 after the second round here.

Jeev, who last won in 2012, and is a two-time winner of Asian Tour order of Merit, admitted he did not even remember when he last shot a 63, as he had eight birdies against no bogeys.

The 45-year-old from Chandigarh at eight-under 134 and three shots behind Bhullar is tied-fifth.

“It has been a while since I have shot a 63. In fact, I can't remember when I last shot a 63. When you shoot a score like that, you just hope to build on it,” Jeev said after the day’s play.

Another Indian doing well is Shiv Kapur. He added a four-under 67 to his first round of 70 to be five-under 137 and tied-23rd.

Of the other Indians in the fray, Shankar Das (71-67) was tied-30th, rookie Arjun Prasad (70-69) was t-38th, while Khalin Joshi (70-70), Himmat Rai (69-71), Chiragh Kumar (71-69) and Shubankar Sharma (72-68) were all tied-50th at two-under.

Scraping under the cut was also S Chikkarangappa (72-69) at tied-66th. But Sujjan Singh, Rahil Gangjee and Honey Baisoya missed the cut. — PTI