Tommy Fleetwood in contention as S.S.P. Chawrasia leads in Hong Kong
By Ali Stafford
Last Updated: 25/11/17 1:07pm
S.S.P. Chawrasia opened up a two-shot lead at the Hong Kong Open, with Race to Dubai champion Tommy Fleetwood sitting five strokes off the pace.
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Fleetwood posted a second successive 68 in Fanling to join the group on four under and keep in touch with Chawrasia, who doubled his overnight advantage thanks to a four-under 66.
Justin Rose recovered from an opening-hole double-bogey to end the day in red figures, as Masters champion Sergio Garcia failed to register a single birdie in his one-over 71.
"It's a great round today," said Chawrasia. "Obviously I'm under pressure a little bit and pressure is always tough, but I can manage, hopefully, the next two days."
Chawrasia birdied the third and added back-to-back gains from the seventh, before holing from 10 feet at the 10th and picking up another shot at the par-five 13th to briefly go five clear.
A three-putt bogey at the 14th reduced Chawrasia's cushion, with Thomas Aiken closing the gap to two shots after closing his round-of-the-day 64 with two birdies in his last three holes.
Swedish pair Alexander Bjork and Joakim Lagergren share third spot with Julian Suri and Poom Saksansin, while Fleetwood lies a further shot back in a tie for seventh.
Fleetwood reached the turn in level-par but moved up the leaderboard with gains at the 12th and 14th, as playing partner Matt Fitzpatrick failed to build on his opening-round 66 as he double-bogeyed the first hole on his way to a three-over 73.
Rose mixed six birdies with three bogeys and a double-bogey in his 69, as Garcia posted one bogey and 17 pars to slip into the group on level-par that also includes defending champion Sam Brazel.
Watch the Hong Kong Open throughout the weekend live on Sky Sports Golf. Coverage continues on Saturday from 4.30am.
