Today's Top StoriesIndian Osaka-Sep-26-IANS-Indian-golfer-Arjun-Atwal-did-not-allow-the-delayed-start-affect-his-concentration News

 

Osaka, Sep 26 IANS Indian golfer Arjun Atwal did not allow the delayed start affect his concentration as he was four-under through 16 holes in the second round of the weather-hit Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open here Friday.

SPO11SportsAtwal moves to 13th place in Panasonic Open golfOsaka, Sep 26 IANS Indian golfer Arjun Atwal did not allow the delayed start affect his concentration as he was four-under through 16 holes in the second round of the weather-hit Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open here Friday.Atwal moved up the leaderboard to tied 13th place. After three birdies on the second, sixth and ninth, he added a fourth one on tenth to be four-under. He then parred the next six holes and will come back to play two more Saturday morning.In the first round Atwal shot a even par 70 and he is now four-under for the tournament.The $1.85 million event is sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour. Atwal who won the Maybank Malaysian Open this season could even challenge for the Order of Merit if he does well or wins here and then plays the remaining big events in Asia.Another Indian, Rahil Gangjee is sure to miss the cut as he added a 73 to his first round 72 to finish at five-over 145 in tied 111th place. Japan's Kaname Yokoo stayed in front despite completing only 16 holes in his second round. He was one-under and held a two-shot lead when play was suspended for the day.Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines charged into the joint clubhouse lead after posting an impressive 65 for a seven-under-par 133 total which was matched by Japan's Katsunori Kuwabara 67 and Norio Shinozaki 68.South Korea's Bae Sang-moon, who qualified for the World Cup in Malaysia last week, also moved into contention with a 65 to lie a further shot back alongside Japan's Toru Suzuki, who returned a 68.A morning thunderstorm resulted in a two and a half hour delay which meant that Yokoo, chasing a sixth career victory in Japan, will return Saturday at 7am along with 59 other players to complete the second round.Thailand's Chinnarat Phangdungsil, the youngest winner on the Asian Tour when he won the Double A International on home soil before his 17th birthday in 2005, shot the day's best with a 63, which was a 10 shot improvement from his first round.Former US Open champion Angel Cabrera of Argentina was two under for the tournament through 12 holes of his second round while American Fred Couples was even par through 13 holes.Round three is expected to begin at 11am Saturday after the halfway cut is made following the completion of the second round.--Indo-Asian News servicevks/abr/dg441 Words26091722