Sports News | Indonesia Open: Five Indians Make Cut After Strong Show

Jakarta, Aug 4 (PTI) Viraj Madappa, S Chikkarangappa and Kartik Sharma led the way as five Indians entered the weekend rounds of the US $ 500,000 Indonesia Open golf on Friday.

Madappa shot 71 and 68 as did Chikka, while Kartik after a first round 68 had a 71 in the second round.

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They were all 5-under and were tied-25th at the Pondok Indah Golf Course in Jakarta.

Among other Indians who made the cut were Veer Ahlawat (72-68) in T-37 and Rashid Khan (68-73) in T-46.

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The remaining nine Indians, Rahil Gangjee (74-69), SSP Chawrasia (72-73), Khalin Joshi (73-72), a three-time winner of the event, Gaganjeet Bhullar (74-72), Akshay Sharma (73-73), Aman Raj (74-72), Ajeetesh Sandhu (75-72), Karandeep Kochhar (75-75) and Honey Baisoya (76-75) missed the cut that fell at 2-under.

MJ Viljoen, a rookie on the Asian Tour, who came through the Qualifying School in January, took the surprise second-round lead after an eye-catching 10-under-par 62.

The South African, playing in his fourth Asian Tour event, made an eagle and eight birdies to go to 14 under, and now holds a one-shot lead over Thailand's Nitithorn Thippong, who carded a 65.

Canadian Richard Lee fired a 66, and he is placed third.

Nitithorn, who had a breakthrough season on the Asian Tour last year, winning the DGC Open and the International Series Singapore, made a welcome return to form.

Sarit Suwannarut (70) of Thailand, Chinese-Taipei's Chang Wei-lun (68), Scott Hend (69) from Australia, and Korean Doyeob Mun (70) are in the following places.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)