Overnight joint leader Peter Whiteford of Scotland maintained consistency as he hold on to his lead with a four-under 68 second round at the European Tour's Avantha Masters golf tournament in Gurgaon on Friday. Whiteford had an uneven round but with 10-under 134 total after the halfway stage, he shot into two-stroke lead over Thailand's Prom Meesawat, who fired eight birdies for the best card of the day - an eight-under 64.

Shamim Khan (70-68) and Anirban Lahiri (69-69) kept themselves in contention as they were the best-placed Indians at tied seventh spot. But there were the likes of Gaganjeet Bhullar (75-73), Rahil Gangjee (75-71), Gaurav Ghei (78, 83), Rashid Khan (77-77), Chiragh Kumar (76-74), who faltered behind the cut line, marked at even-par 144.

Among the other Indians, Jeev Milkha Singh (69-72), Shiv Kapur (71-70) and defending champion SSP Chowrasia (71-72) made it to the money round. But the stars - Major champions John Daly and Todd Hamilton of the United States - failed to shine. While buzz around Daly turned silent after he withdrew on Friday due to a wrist injury, following a poor 79 in the first round, Hamilton (76-77) can enjoy Avantha Masters only from the grandstand or on television as he too couldn't survive the cut.

Starting from 10th tee, Whiteford fought against early morning chill and he finished front nine in 35 strokes after three birdies and two bogeys. But his game glistened as the sun started upward journey. The Scot conceded a bogey on the fifth hole, but he shot himself into clear sole lead with two birdies, and an eagle on the sixth.

"It was a good round today. I had a sticky patch at the start. It was freezing cold this morning and it's a lot harder. But once it warmed up a bit I started to play a bit better and gave myself a few chances," said Whiteford, who is chasing his first European Tour victory.

Shamim cashed in on his excellent putting to rise from 19th spot to the seventh with a round comprising six birdies and two bogeys. "I putted well today and driving was also good. I will play my own game tomorrow and try to carry the momentum forward," he said. Two SAIL Open champions Thai Chapchai Nirat (70-67) and Kiradech Aphibarnrat (68-69), Australian Kieren Pratt (71-66) and Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (68-69) are tied third, three strokes behind the leader.