KATHMANDU, AUGUST 24

Nepal No 1 pro Sukra Bahadur Rai faltered in the second round of the Chennai Open Golf Championship but survived the cut at the TNGF-Cosmo Golf Club in Chennai today.

Rai played three-over 75 on the second day for the 36-hole total of one-under 143 in the event under the Professional Golf Tour of India. Rai, who shared fourth position after the first round, slipped to tied 28th position. He is tied with five Indian golfers.

Starting from the 10th tee, Rai shot three-over 38 on his front nine before caring even-par 37 in the latter half.

Rai dropped shots on the 12th, 13th, 14th and 17th holes, while he carded a birdie on the 15th hole. Rai then dropped a shot on the third hole before bouncing back with three straight birdies from the fourth. But he faced a double bogey on the par-5 eighth hole.

'I had recovered well in the back nine with three consecutive birdies but a poor shot on the 17th hole ruined the day,' said Rai. 'I will opt the aggressive game plan in the third round and try to better my position,' he added.

India's Manu Gandas carded seven-under 65 in the second round to earn a share of lead with Sri Lankan N Thangaraja (67) at 11-under 133.

Another Indian pro Khalin H Joshi (68) was third at nine-under, while overnight leader Karandeep Kochhar (71) and Abhijeet Singh Chadha (65) shared the fourth position at eight-under 136. Out of the 126 golfers, 57 players survived the cut which fell at two-over 146.

A version of this article appears in the print on August 25, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.