Ajeetesh Sandhu fired a bogey-free 3-under 70 on Day 2 to emerge as the top-ranked Indian at the halfway stage of the US$2 million International Series Morocco in Rabat. After a 1-under 72 in the opening round, Sandhu sits at 4-under par and Tied-25th on the leaderboard at the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam.

Indian Scorecards at the Halfway Mark

Gaganjeet Bhullar, a four-time Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, carded a 74 to slip to Tied-47th, despite a spirited run of four consecutive birdies on the front nine. Starting from the tenth, Bhullar endured three bogeys and a double bogey on the par-3 second to find himself 3-over at one stage. His late charge with four birdies in four holes from the fifth could not fully repair the damage, as a dropped shot on his closing ninth hole sealed a difficult round.

Karandeep Kochhar, another Asian Tour winner, carded back-to-back 72s to also finish at Tied-47th — the only other Indian to survive the cut.

Seven of the 10 Indians who began the tournament failed to advance. Among those missing the cut by a single shot were Shaurya Bhattacharya, veteran SSP Chawrasia, and Anirban Lahiri. Rashid Khan, Aryan Roopa Anand, and Udayan Mane also made early exits.

Watson and Pavit Share the Lead at 11-Under

Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson of the United States produced the round of the day, carding a 7-under 66 to join Thailand's Pavit Tangkamolprasert at the top of the leaderboard on 11-under 135. The 47-year-old Watson struck 15 of 18 fairways, made eight birdies against a solitary bogey, and needed just 26 putts — a display of precision that recalled his prime years on the PGA Tour.

Watson's last professional victory came at the Travelers Championship in June 2018, making his current form at Morocco one of the more compelling stories of the week.

Pavit, who led after Round 1, closed with a 3-under 70 despite two early bogeys. He recovered in trademark fashion, picking up strokes on the 17th and 18th holes to maintain his share of the lead.

Chasing Pack and Key Contenders

Korea's Younghan Song sits one stroke back at 10-under after a 69. A group at 9-under includes Australia's Travis Smyth — the International Series Japan champion and current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader — defending champion Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe, who shot a 67, and Hong Kong's Taichi Kho with a 69.

Thai duo Jazz Janewattananond, champion of the inaugural International Series Morocco, and Suteepat Prateeptienchai are tied at 8-under after rounds of 67 and 69 respectively.

Host Nation and What Comes Next

Mehdi El Fakori was the sole Moroccan player to make the cut, progressing on rounds of 74 and 70. With the field now halved, the weekend rounds at the Red Course promise a tight contest — Watson's resurgent form against a cluster of in-form Asian Tour regulars sets up an intriguing final two days.