Two Asian players closed Day Two at the top of the leaderboard as the Magical Kenya Open entered the business end with only a single Kenyan making the cut.

India’s Shubhankar Sharma who started at back nine finished Day Two top with an impressive four-under par score of 67. In Round One he set a score of under 10 with 65 on the board.

The 25-year-old, ranked fifth in DP World Tour, ended Day Two on a combined 132 points albeit his play was occasioned by two bogies in hole three and hole 14. However, his four birdies and one eagle made up for the slips to make him a strong contender for the title.

Speaking later to People Sport, the two-time DP Tour winner stated, “I am really happy, whenever you finish with two birdies, you’re always happy. It was a good round for me today, it was quite a slow start for me starting on the back nine, not much was happening for me, but that eagle on the 18th really propelled me. The front nine was great, missed birdie opportunities on both the par fives but came back strong on eight and nine with birdies and I’m really pleased with the score. It does fly a long way, personally I have done well whenever I play at altitude.

I am good at controlling my irons, so I did not do too much trackman work this week. I might have hit about 50 balls on the trackman this week – and I just got my numbers. I think the ball is flying about 15 percent longer than it does at sea level, and it has been consistent. Obviously, a few shots here and there you do get a little bit surprised, but I think I have done a good job of getting my distances dialled in.”

At the same time, World Number 44 Masahiro Kawamura of Japan finished on five under par and a score total of 66 in Round Two action in a day that saw him sink five birdies. In Round One on Thursday, the player sank six birdies, but his mission was neutralised by two boogies along the way and in the process scoring 67 on the board and four under par. He now has a combined 133 points after two rounds putting him in a good place for a shot at the title.

The 28-year-old Kawamura was happy with his performance with all eyes on the crucial weekend rounds. “I am happy, this was a good round and a very nice finish. I missed some iron shots but my chipping and putting were very good today. A bogey-free is great for me. It’s just Friday and I need to just keep going and hopefully I can keep playing this way at the weekend.”

Third place in the leaderboard was Scotsman Ewen Ferguson who finished on a four under par score on the board with a 66 on the board. The 25-year-old ranked number 98 in the world had a vast difference performance as opposed to Round One with a five under par score. Ferguson sank five birdies and had a single bogey in the second hole to underscore his day on the course.

Meanwhile, it was a day of horror for Kenyans as only young Njoroge Kibugu made it through in what was a cutthroat competition Friday. All eight professionals and five other amateurs fell through in what was a disappointing out for the home team. Veteran Dismas Indiza expressed displeasure with his game. “I felt I played well but a couple of bogies and double bogies ruined everything afterwards. My putting was also not as good and most of my tee-shots were going off. “