Chandigarh golfer Angad Cheema shot a personal best 10 under round to take a four-stroke lead on day two of the Vizag Open at the East Point GC on Thursday. Image courtesy PGTI.
By Rahul Banerji
Golconda Masters runner-up Angad Cheema shot a personal best 10 under par 61 to lead the Rs 1 crore Vizag Open at the East Point Golf Club in Visakhapatnam on Thursday.
Fourth on the Tata Steel PGTI Ranking with six top-10s in the season so far, Cheema (69-61) is on 12 under 130 at the halfway stage with imposing four-shot lead, the PGTI said.
Patna’s Aman Raj (66-68) was second on 8 under 134 with a second round of 68.
Aryan Roopa Anand (67-68) of Bangalore was a further shot back in third place while Rahil Gangjee, Ajay Baisoya and Yashas Chandra M.S. shared fourth place on 6 under 136s.
The cut fell at 1 over 143 with 57 professionals making it through. Among those missing out was last week’s Golconda Masters winner Shankar Das.
Searching for his second PGTI title and end an 11-year victory drought, Cheema surged 12 places from overnight tied 13th thanks to the week’s lowest round punctuated by an eagle and eight birdies.
Precise play
Cheema, who started from the 10th hole, fired his iron and wedge shots close to the flag on Thursday, leaving his eagle putt and three other birdie putts within tap in distance.
The 34-year-old also landed it within six to eight feet on four other occasions which he converted for birdies.
“I’m delighted to have shot my personal best score,” Cheema said. “The birdie-birdie start and three really good golf shots on the 16, 17 and 18 gave me momentum. I played some brilliant iron and wedge shots.
“No matter what the result of the previous week, you have to start afresh every week. So, I just focused on doing that here in Vizag and am trying not to get too ahead of myself.”
Aman Raj, who was overnight tied second, mixed an eagle, two birdies and a bogey during his 68 to end day two in sole second place.
Round one leader Milind Soni of Hyderabad slipped to tied seventh on 5 under 137 with a 74 on Thursday.
Defending champion N. Thangaraja (70) of Sri Lanka was tied 16th at 2 under 140 while all four Visakhapatnam-based golfers in the field missed the cut.
Also read: Teenage rookie Soni hogs Vizag first round limelight at EPGC
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