NEW DELHI: Playing a steady game, local pro Pappan defeated sixth-seeded Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia on the final hole and won 2 up in the second round of the Rs. 10 lakh SRF all-India matchplay golf championship at the Delhi Golf Club course here on Wednesday.

Pappan, known as a master of matchplay golf, bided his time before he drove home a birdie on the par-5 18th hole to shut out Chowrasia from the championship.

"My plan was to play safe and wait for him (Chowrasia) to make mistakes," said Pappan. "It is difficult to beat Pappan at the DGC. I knew that," said Chowrasia of Pappan, who regularly practises here in this format of golf.

Pappan went on a birdie binge from the fifth hole, while Chowrasia struggled to par. He was three up after the seventh hole and that lead was enough for Pappan to hold on and move into the pre-quarterfinals.

Seeds fall

Joining Chowrasia on the sidelines were 10th-seeded Ranjit Singh and 14th-seeded Uttam Singh Mundy. Former Indian Open champion Ali Sher had a few tricks up his sleeve as he got past Ranjit Singh 2 up, while Vinod Kumar spoiled Mundy's party, winning 2 and 1.

Other top-seeded players, however, cruised into the pre-quarterfinals with Mukesh Kumar beating Mohammed Salim 2 and 1 and Digvijay Singh getting the better of Basad Ali by the same margin.

Vivek Bhandari and Sankar Das scored huge victories, winning with identical 7 and 6 scoreline. Bhandari defeated Monish Bindra while Das beat Rajiv Datar.

The results:

Second round: Mukesh Kumar bt Mohammed Salim 2 and 1; A.S. Malik bt Vishal Singh 4 and 2: Harinder Gupta bt Binod Pandey 3 and 2; Feroz Ali bt C. Muniyappa on 19th hole; Digvijay Singh bt Basad Ali 2 and 1; Shamim Khan bt Yusuf Ali 5 and 3; Pappan bt S.S.P. Chowrasia 2 up; Shiv Prakash bt S. Madaiah on 19th hole; Vijay Kumar bt Jumman conceded; Sankar Das bt Rajiv Datar 7 and 6; Sanjay Kumar bt Sajjan Singh on 19th hole; Ali Sher bt Ranjit Singh 2 up; Ashok Kumar bt Mohammed Salim 6 and 5; Vinod Kumar bt Uttam Singh Mundy 2 and 1; Vivek Bhandari bt Monish Bindra 7 and 6; Arjun Singh bt Ajai Gupta 3 and 1.

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