Kaushal maintains two- shot lead
Noida’s Dipankar Kaushal followed up his first round of eight- under- 62 with a steady one- under- 69 in round two to maintain a two- shot lead at the PGTI Feeder Tour event at the Palms Golf Club & Resort in Lucknow on Wednesday.
The 32- year- old totalled nineunder131 at the end of day two of the 2018 Feeder Tour season’s sixth and last event.
Lucknow golfers Rajesh Kumar Rawat ( 64- 69) and Amardeep Rawat ( 65- 69) stayed second and third respectively for the second day in succession.
Rajesh’s total stood at seven- under133 while Amardeep had a tally of six- under- 134.
The cut fell at two- over- 142 with 44 making the grade out of a total of 82.
Kaushal ( 62- 69), currently 15th on the Feeder Tour Order of Merit thanks to two top- 10s in the season, now goes into the final round of an event as the leader for the first time in his career.
Searching for his maiden title, Kaushal began the second round with a birdie on the first. However, he lost momentum by dropping two shots courtesy a three- putt and a poor drive nut made a comeback on the back nine with some brilliant iron- play.
Kaushal said, “I didn’t hit it as well today as I had done in round one. The putts also didn’t roll in for me. However, a couple of exceptional tee shots on the back- nine helped me maintain my lead.
“In the final round, I’ll just look to repeat what I’ve done over the first two days.”
Local lad Rajesh Rawat built on his first round effort of 64 with a solid 69 on Wednesday that featured three birdies and two bogeys. The highlight of his second round was a spectacular chip on the 16th that led to a tap- in birdie.
Rawat, a former winner on the Feeder Tour, said, “The third place finish at the Lucknow Golf Club last week really helped my confidence. I’ve been quite consistent since then. I’m two off the lead now, so it’s all about creating those opportunities early during the final round.”
Feeder Tour Order of Merit leader Pawan Verma of Delhi returned an even- par- 70 to be tied seventh at fourunder136.
Kapurthala’s Ashbeer Saini, currently second in the Order of Merit, made the cut by one shot as he totalled two- over- 142 to be tied 35th.
Gurugram- based Dhruv Sheoran, third in the Order of Merit, posted the day’s best score of 64 for tied 17th at one- under- 139.