Defending champion Wang misses the cut as Otaegui leads in Qatar

Doha: Spain’s Adrian Otaegui produced a blistering finish to move to the top of a crowded leaderboard at the halfway stage of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters while defending champion Jeunghun Wang and promising Indian youngster Shubhankar Sharma, both missed the cut.
Yesterday, Otaegui birdied the last three holes at Doha Golf Club to add a second round of 66 to his opening 67 and finish 11 under par, a shot ahead of Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher, England’s Eddie Pepperell, France’s Gregory Havret and South African Erik van Rooyen.
Otaegui opened with a bogey-free 67 yesterday and went one better in round two, making a single bogey as he leapfrogged Van Rooyen, who had set the target in the morning.
On another day of low scoring in unusually calm conditions, the halfway cut fell at a record four under par and means the remaining 78 players are separated by just seven shots.
“I think it was similar out there today to the first round,” said Otaegui.
“I know I’m playing well, I’m confident with my game at the moment and I’m just trying to keep my momentum going,” said the Spaniard, who won his maiden European Tour title in the Paul Lawrie Match Play last year and has developed in one of the most consistent performers on Tour, making his last nine cuts.
Van Rooyen, the rookie who finished third on last year’s Challenge Tour to earn his spot on the European Tour, has made himself right at home, finishing second at the Joburg Open in December and is well placed to make a weekend charge for a maiden win here in Qatar.
Oliver Fisher and Sean Crocker both joined him at nine under and set the clubhouse target but Van Rooyen birdied the par five last to hit the front on his own before being overtaken himself by Otaegui’s fast finish.
Pepperell and Havret had held a share of the day one lead and they both carded rounds of 69 in the afternoon to remain side by side.
South African George Coetzee also signed for a 66 to sit in the group at nine under that also includes German Sebastian Heisele, Spaniard Pablo Larrazábal Crocker and Fisher.
France’s Raphaël Jacquelin made the third albatross on Tour in four weeks when holed a two-hybrid from 245 yards on the tenth to sit at eight under alongside countryman Mike Lorenzo-Vera, Spaniards Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño and Alvaro Quiros and England’s Ryan Evans.
 The third round tee times begin at 06:55am.