By Rahul Banerji
Twice a runner-up at Jamshedpur, Chikkarangappa S. set the Tata Steel PGTI Tour Championship alight with a sublime 10-under 62 for a one-shot lead on Friday.
The week’s lowest score gave Bangalore’s Chikka a 17-under 199 total at the Rs 3 crore season-ender being played at the Steel City’s Steel Beldih and Golmuri Golf Courses.
A 14- time PGTI winner Chikka (66-71-62) finished second at the Tata Open 2018 and then at the Tour Championship in 2020. On the day, he climbed 12 places with a round that included two early eagles.
Delhi’s Kapil Kumar (63-70-67), overnight tied second, produced a 67 on Friday to close the day in lone second place on 16-under 200 at the richest-ever event on the PGTI.
Another Bangalorean, Khalin Joshi (69-67-65) moved up six places on Moving Day to third on 15-under 201.
Rankings leader Manu Gandas has all but sealed the PGTI Order of Merit title as his round of 68 saw him stay joint fourth on 14-under 202.
The Gurgaon golfer was comfortably ahead of his nearest rivals, Chandigarh’s Ajeetesh Sandhu (T14 on 10-under 206), Om Prakash Chouhan of Mhow (T17, nine-under 207) and Chandigarh’s Yuvraj Singh Sandhu (T42, one-under 215).
Second round leader Mohd Azhar (70) of Vikarabad, slipped three places to join Gandas and Karandeep Kochhar (68) of Chandigarh in tied fourth place.
Fiery start
Chikka was off to a flier with eagles on the second and fourth holes with 15-foot conversions both times.
He also narrowly missed a third from 20 feet in between where he settled for a birdie.
A bogey on five did nothing to upset Chikka’s momentum as he continued to fire in his irons and wedges close for a further three birdies.
Chikka, also a two-time winner on the Asian development Tour picked up four more shots on his way back t the clubhouse against one final dropped shot.
“It was a dream round,” Chikka said, later. “Even though I’ve been playing well of late, I wasn’t posting these deep rounds.
“Sinking two eagles early on gave me good momentum to carry forward.
“Comparing the two courses I would say, Golmuri is on the shorter side where a lot of people go for birdies and eagles.
“But Beldih is tighter being a tree-lined track. It is looking really good after the recent changes.
“I’ve always played well at these two courses so that gives me confidence heading into the final round. I’ve been driving the ball like a dream and I just need to continue doing that.
“However, holing the putts will also be crucial.”
Quick recovery
Kapil Kumar bogeyed his first two holes from short putts. But his ball-striking got him back in the game as he traded eight birdies for a lone bogey thereafter.
Joshi’s eagle came on two where he landed his approach from 240 yards to within inches of the pin. He then added six more birdies at the expense of one bogey.
Shiv Kapur was seventh on 13-under 203, Jyoti Randhawa T14 on 10-under 206, while defending champion Udayan Mane and S.S.P. Chawrasia were tied 17th at nine-under 207.
Gaganjeet Bhullar was tied 24th on eight-under 208 and Jeev Milkha Singh was tied 69th at 10-over 226.
Jamshedpur-based professionals, Karan Taunk (even-par 216) and Kurush Heerjee (three-over 219) were tied 46th and tied 56th respectively.
Also read: Low-key Azhar grabs halfway lead at Tour Championship
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