Howell well-placed to make Avantha Masters cut (From Swindon Advertiser)

Howell well-placed to make Avantha Masters cut

5:39pm Thursday 16th February 2012 in Local

DAVID Howell will fancy his chances of making the cut at the Avantha Masters after ending the first day’s play at level par.

The Broome Manor pro was locked in a tie for 47th out of the 131-strong field, ahead of his second round in the early hours of tomorrow morning.

Having started off at the DLF Golf & Country Club in New Delhi with two pars, the Swindonian’s day took a turn for the worse as he threw in bogeys at the third and fifth.

However, a recovery either side of the turn was in the offing as Howell carded a four and three at the ninth and 10th respectively to pick up two further shots.

Four straight pars followed, only for the Wiltshire man to let a stroke slip at the par-four 15th.

But just when it looked as if he might end his round on a low note, Howell snuck in a four at the par-five 18th to ensure he finished his first day’s work at level par.

Leading the field is Spaniard Alejandro Canizares on six-under, while Scot Peter Whiteford and Italian Federico Colombo are one shot behind.

English players are struggling to make an impression at the top of the leaderboard, with David Horsey the highest-placed Englishman in joint 33rd on one-under.

Howell will begin his second round tomorrow at 7.15am local time (1.45am GMT). He will play alongside Sujjan Singh and George Murray.