Defending champion Keita Nakajima of Japan in action on day two of the Hero Indian Open at DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon on Friday. Image Getty Images.
By Rahul Banerji
Defending champion Keita Nakajima of Japan and Spain’s Eugenio Chacarra shared the lead after day two of the $2.25 million 58th Hero Indian Open at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon on Friday.
On a day the speedy DLF greens took a heavy toll on scores, overnight leaders Marcus Kinhult, Nicolas Colsaerts and Marcus Armitage fell away, leaving Nakajima (66) and Chacarra (70) tied on 4 under par 144.
At the halfway stage of the tournament, only 14 players were under par and the cut came at 6 over 150, the highest since the Hero Indian Open was first played at this venue in 2017.
Gaganjeet Bhullar (72-73) was the best placed of the 30-strong home contingent sharing 20th place on 1 over 145 while Shiv Kapur (72-74), Ajeetesh Sandhu (69-77) and Aman Raj (73-73) were a shot behind in shared 25th place.
“I played well yesterday and today,” Bhullar said later.
“Yesterday I finished even par, today was plus one. Made three bogeys against two birdies, drove the ball really well, hit lots and lots of greens in regulation and made a few good up and downs.
Maintain momentum
“And now the goal is to basically maintain the same momentum and try and catch up to the lead.”
Eighteen Indians missed the cut including two-time champion S.S.P. Chawrasia who won the second of his titles on the DLF course in 2017 as the last home winner. In all, 68 professionals progressed into the money rounds.
Nakajima picked up seven birdies on the front nine to leap up the leaderboard and make up for an indifferent first day when he had returned a 2 over 74.
The Japanese star dropped his first shot of the day on hole 11 as he mixed three bogeys with two birdies to finish with the day’s best card of 6 under 66.
A closing bogey though dropped Nakajima into a share of the lead with Chacarra who had teed off on the back nine.
The former LIV Golf star returned six birdies, two bogeys and a double in his 70 as he traded the lead with Nakajima on the opposite side of the course. The two were two shots ahead of their closest pursuers.
Having fun
“It was a great day and also it was so much fun,” Nakajima said later.
“Two rounds so yeah, two more days. This is a tough course but a fun course. Me and my caddy were talking about playing it like that. Just keep patient, and keep smiling. That was good.
“The key today was to keep patient. It’s good for this golf course and I will try to do the same thing for two more days.”
Day two co-leader Eugenio Chacarra of Spain tees off on the fifth hole at the DLF Golf and Country Club. Image courtesy Getty Images.
Added Chacarra, “It was tough. The afternoon wave in a course like this is going be tougher and the wind picked up I think pretty much all day. Really pleased with the result.
“I think I started really good but I think I left some shots out there to be honest. I’m just trying to have fun.
“I know this course is a test for everyone and one bad swing hits you hard. So I’m happy with the result but obviously it’s only Friday. Really excited for hopefully a good weekend.
“We were hitting wedges and the ball was skipping sometimes six, seven steps. It was tough out there, but like I said, I tried to enjoy it out there and I think I did a pretty good job besides a couple of mistakes.
“Like I said, I think I gave away a couple of shots. I missed like a two-footer on four that was from nowhere. I’ve been putting great and then on five I tried to be a little too aggressive to make a birdie because I had a good number and I hit it to the worst spot/
“If you short-size yourself in the afternoon, it’s just so hard to make an up-and-down. But I am happy trying to learn from my mistakes. Right now I will go hit some balls and just get ready for tomorrow.”
Catching up
Nakajima was six shots behind the leaders when he set out in the morning but was quickly back on even terms with the course with birdies on holes one and three. Another gain came with a chip-in on four and he completed a birdie hat-trick on five.
Chacarra was on the move too with a birdie hat-trick of his own on the back nine but a double on hole 17 when his ball dived into the rough on the plateau green dented his card.
It gave Nakajima a share of the lead and he went a further shot ahead with a birdie on the ninth.
Chacarra rebounded with birdies on 18 and three after making the turn in three under par. A ding-dong battle followed and Nakajima surrendered the sole lead on his final hole, topping his bunker shot and three-putting to close the day.
Meanwhile, DD Sports is airing live coverage of the Hero Indian Open for the very first time and will continue to do so till the final day between 2 pm and 5 pm daily.
Also read: Ajeetesh Sandhu leads home charge at 58th Hero Indian Open
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