Vijay in command after rd two; Bhullar trails by two strokes

Kolkata, Feb 3 (PTI) Vijay Kumar shot a two under 70 tobuild a two-stroke lead in the second round of the PGTIPlayers Championship here today.

Vijay ended round two with a total of eight under 136while Gaganjeet Bhullar''s second round 69 placed him at sixunder 138 at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club.

The cut was declared at six over 150 and fifty-oneprofessionals made the cut.

Vijay, a 10th tee starter today, dropped a stroke with abogey on the 12th but then rallied with a hat-trick of birdiesfrom the 14th through the 16th. He hit his approach shots towithin five feet on the 14th and 16th. A missed chip-putt ledto a bogey on the 18th. Vijay therefore made the turn at oneunder.

The 42-year-old sank putts from eight to 10 feet to pickup birdies on the second and sixth. Vijay then suffered asetback on the closing ninth as he missed a relatively easychip-putt and thereby dropped another bogey.

"My hitting was good today but the short-game was not upto the mark. My club selection should have been better on the18th and ninth. I missed a trick by not using one iron longeron these two holes as I was hitting against the wind.

"It''s difficult to shoot low numbers on all four days onthis course. Therefore, I''m quite pleased with my second roundeffort," said Vijay.

Bhullar, one of the pre-tournament favourites, shot asecond successive 69 to trail the leader by two strokes. TheKapurthala golfer made four birdies and a bogey in round two.

Kolkata golfers SSP Chowrasia and Raju Ali Mollah sharethird place along with Chandigarh''s Roop Singh. Chowrasiaposted an even par 72 in round two while Raju, the round onejoint leader, fired a one over 73.

Bangalore-based professional Anirban Lahiri and Kolkata''sRahil Gangjee are in joint sixth position at four under 140.

Gangjee''s four under 68 was the day''s best score.