Jeev Milkha Singh came up with a disciplined performance to card a six-under-par 66 in the second round and maintain his tied second spot in the $2.9-million Ballantine’s Championship here on Friday.

Jeev, with a total of 10-under-par 134, was two strokes behind Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, who carded an enviable eight-under-par 64 to jump to the top of the leaderboard with a two-day total of 12-under-par 132. The Indian pro shares the second spot with Johan Edfors of Sweden.

Jyoti Randhawa, who shared the second spot with compatriot Jeev on Thursday, shot an even-par 72 to be tied 19th with nine others in the co-sanctioned event.

Gaurav Ghei shot a second straight 72, while Shiv Kapur is likely to miss the cut after being one-over for the tournament with two holes still to play after the second round was delayed due to winds on Friday.

After playing six straight pars, Jeev birdied the seventh and ninth holes of the front nine. Then he went into overdrive on the back nine, making birdies on the 10th, 13th, 15th and 17th holes for his bogey-free 66 at the Pinx Golf Club.

Randhawa had a disappointing outing on Friday as the lanky Indian bogeyed twice in each half.
A tenth-tee starter, Randhawa started off on a bright note by firing an eagle on the 10th hole. But he bogeyed the next hole and the 17th hole.

On his return journey, Randhawa had two birdies and two bogeys to finish with a two-day aggregate of four-under-par 140.

Leading scores (after 36 holes, 2nd to be completed on Saturday):

132: Graeme McDowell (Britain, 68, 64); 134: Johan Edfors (Swe, 69, 65), Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind, 68, 66); 135: Kim Hyung-tae (Kor, 69, 66), Paul McGinley (Ire, 68, 67); 136: Thomas Bjorn (Den, 70, 66), Padraig Harrington (Ire, 71, 65), Anthony Kim (US, 68, 68); 137: Terry Pilkadaris (Aus, 71, 66); 138: Ariel Canete (Arg, 70, 68), Chris DiMarco (US, 70, 68).