Akshay fires two eagles, takes sole lead after Day 2
NUH (HARYANA): Chandigarh’s Akshay Sharma kept the lead on Day 2 of the PGTI Players Championship at the Classic Golf & Country Club, firing a second consecutive round of five-under-67 that featured two eagles on Wednesday. Akshay, who was in joint lead on Tuesday, now holds the sole lead at 10-under-134.
India’s No 1 Shubhankar Sharma shot a four-under-68 in Rd 2 to rise from overnight tied 11th to tied-eighth at six-under138.
Ahmedabad’s Udayan Mane scorched the course with the day’s best round of eight-under-64 to rise 23 spots to tied second at nine-under-135. Kolkata’s Sunit Chowrasia, nephew of Indian golfing legend SSP Chawrasia, also grabbed a share of second place as he gained one position with a round of 67.
The halfway cut was applied at even-par-144 and 51 players made the cut.
Akshay Sharma, winner on the PGTI last year, reaped the dividends of some consistent hitting in Rd 2. The 28-year-old chipped-in for eagle on the 14th but soon dropped a stroke on the 16th. However, his round took off on the front-nine where he made a 12-feet eagle conversion on the third and landed his wedge shots within four feet for birdies on the first and seventh.
Akshay said, “Both my rounds have been 67 but today’s was better as I made fewer bogeys and struck it consistently on the front-nine. It’s also always special to make two eagles in a round. I now have a good foundation to strive for my second title.”
GAURIKA TAKES LEAD
AHMEDABAD: Gaurika Bishnoi overcame a bogey start for a oneunder 71 to take the lead after the opening round of the fourth leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour here Wednesday. Trailing Gaurika by a single shot was Ridhima Dilawari, who is appearing in her first full season as a pro.
Neha Tripathi had an eventful 74, which placed her in third position. Sifat Alag was sole fourth at 75 after looking set to finish under par.