SSP Chawrasia moves into sole lead on another dramatic day

No lead is secure and no shot safe at this challenging Gary Player course at the DLF Golf and Country Club. Defending champion SSP Chawrasia, who started the second round in Tied-25th place after finishing his first round this morning, moved into sole leadership by the end of his second round with a bogey-free 67. But 66 players had yet to finish their second round.

Trailing Chawrasia's five-under was David Horsey at four-under, while Matteo Manassero, who was one-over through seven holes, is now three-under for he tournament and tied third with Eddie Pepperell who has played only two holes in second round with one bogey and one birdie.

Four players including Carlos Pigem (73), Michael Hoey (71), Sam Walker and Danny Chia are all at two-under, but of them Pigem and Hoey have completed their second round.

Chawrasia waking up to a 4 am alarm to get back to the Club to finish the remaining three holes from his first round, put a ball into the water and ended up with a bogey on the closing 18th and carded 72 to be Tied-25th.

Horsey playing in the same group moved from five-under to six-under to be the clear leader at the end of the first round, while the third player in the group, reigning Asia No. 1 Scott Hend (73) was Tied-38th.

Italian Nino Bertasio finished his first round this morning in 67 despite a closing bogey and another Italian Matteo Manassero was third at 68.

But by the time all, except Manassero, had finished their second rounds, the look of the leaderboard had changed dramatically.

Chawrasia missed a few makeable birdie putts but holed a couple of 25-plus feet putts for birdies. Then he missed a two-footer at the finish. Yet he was blemish free with a 67 and had also taken sole lead, as Horsey tripped to 74, Bertasio had ruined his first round 67 with second round 80 and Scott Hend had almost put himself out of the event with a second round 82.

Just as Chawrasia finished his round the hooter went off to signal a suspension of play for the second day running.

Chawrasia said, "I'm getting a little used to the course now but still learning along the way and trying to understand the course. I haven't changed anything. I'll look to play the same way on the last two days. My strategy is to hit straight and putt well. Just keep it simple."

"My putter was hot today. I converted from 25 feet and 20 feet on the fifth and eighth respectively. I also had a 40-45 foot conversion on the 14th.