Chandigarh golfer Angad Cheema fired a 65 to take a share of the Telangana Golconda Masters lead with Sri Lanka’s N. Thangaraja at the HGA on Saturday. Image courtesy PGTI.
By Rahul Banerji
Angad Cheema made the most of Moving Day with a 5 under par 65 to emerge as co-leader in the Rs 1 crore IGPL presents Telangana Golconda Masters at the Hyderabad Golf Association on Saturday.
Overnight leader N. Thangaraja of Sri Lanka, returned a 1 under 69 in round three to share the lead along with Cheema on 14 under 196, the PGTI said.
Kolkata’s Shankar Das returned the day’s best of 64 to gain 12 places to share tied third place on 12-under 198 alongside Tata Steel PGTI Ranking leader Veer Ahlawat (66).
Chandigarh golfer Cheema (68-63-65), tied for second overnight tied four strokes behind Thangaraja, closed in early in his round with four birdies in the first six holes where he landed a couple of approach shots within three feet of the pin.
A bogey on 10 couldn’t halt Angad’s progress as his ball-striking precision continued on the par-4 14th where he drove the back edge of the green to pick up another stroke.
Cheema, 34, who won a title each on the PGTI and the PGTI Feeder Tour in his rookie season in 2013, grabbed the sole lead with a chip-in for eagle on 17. However, a bogey on 18 saw him drop back into the shared lead.
Right direction
Currently fourth on the PGTI Order of Merit with five top-10s in the season and now looking to end his 11-year victory drought, Cheema said, “The game’s been good. The few things that I worked on recently have helped my game. There are still some areas that need to be sharpened.
“The first five holes on this course are a tough stretch so picking up birdies there served as a big boost for me today. I struck it really well today and kept it in play throughout. I hope to continue doing the same tomorrow.
“The course is in fantastic condition despite the heavy rains recently. The HGA has done a great job to keep the course in good shape.”
Four-time PGTI winner Thangaraja (65-62-69) started well as he converted two short birdie putts on the first five holes.
A couple of missed chip-putts then cost the 43-year-old from Colombo two bogeys. But Thanga’s birdie on 13 ensured there would be no further setbacks.
Thangaraja said, “I struggled with the driver today and kept finding the rough. I couldn’t capitalise with my tee shots especially on the par-5s.
“That made all the difference. However, there’s still a lot of golf to be played. Hopefully, I can regain my lost touch in the final round.”
Karan Pratap Singh (67) and Saarthak Chhibber (68) were tied for fifth on 11-under 199.
Hyderabad-based professional Mohd Azhar (65) was tied 17th on 7 under 203.
Also read: Three-way tie for lead on day one of Telangana Golconda Masters
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