Storm and Archer gathering pace in India

Graeme Storm and Phillip Archer shot themselves into contention at the Johnnie Walker Classic today, moving within two shots of clubhouse leader Unho Park of Australia midway through the second round.

Storm followed his two-under-par 70 in the opening round with a six-under 66 at the DLF Golf and Country Club near Delhi while Archer jumped from level-par to eight-under after carding a 64 on the 7,156-yard Arnold Palmer-designed layout.

After making a steady start with pars at his first five holes, Storm caught fire, draining five birdies on the next eight to move to seven-under.

He dropped his first stroke of the tournament with a bogey on the 15th but recovered to birdie the last two holes to reach the midway stage of the tri-sanctioned tournament on eight-under 136.

Having made the cut in only one of three events that he has played so far this season, the 29-year-old from Hartlepool was understandably pleased with his good start in India.

“I’ve played well the last two days. Yesterday, I didn’t hole many putts but today, I holed a couple more and just made one mistake, one blemish on my card in two days,” said Storm.

“I have not been playing great of late, not been playing much and not been able to practice much either with the weather at home but it is starting to click.

“Winning last year (at the French Open) has opened a few doors for me and my targets have changed a little. I have not had the best start to the year but there are plenty of tournaments to come.”

Meanwhile, Archer surged up the leaderboard after recording the best round so far in the tournament with an eight-under 64.

The Warrington native teed off on the back nine and made the turn in four under after birdies at the 11th and 15th and an eagle on the 18th.

Further birdies followed on the first, fifth, seventh and ninth for the 35-year-old, who is eyeing his first victory on the European Tour after three runner-up finishes last season.

“I don’t like to say it was easy but it felt very easy with no stress,” said Archer of his round. “I hit it close a few times and made a few decent 15 footers. When you hole them and knock your six footers in, it feels easy.”

The morning though belonged to Park, who improved to 10-under 134 after firing a six-under 66.

The Singapore-based Australian pro birdied his first two holes of the day on the 10th and 11th but gave back the shots with bogeys on the 12th and 15th.

But the 34-year-old regained his momentum, holing consecutive birdies on the 17th and 18th before picking up four more birdies coming in to take a one-stroke lead into the clubhouse.

Local favourite Jyoti Randhawa (65) and little-known Japanese player Taichiro Kiyota (67) were tied for second place on nine under while world number five Adam Scott shared fourth place with Storm and Archer after carding his second consecutive round of 68.

The Australian was pleased with his position heading into the weekend: “It’s good to get on the leaderboard early. You’re always in touch with whatever that is going on out there.

“Around this course, it’s very hard to make up a lot of shots, so being up there with the leaders is a good spot right now,” Scott added.

Australia’s Adam Bland was alone on seven-under after firing a 68 while India’s Jeev Milkha Singh was tied with three others on six under following a disappointing 70.