Aniket Sawant tops Pre Qualifying I, 25 players enter Final Stage

By Rahul Banerji

Overnight co-leader Aniket Sawant totalled 13-under 131 to top round two of Pre Qualifying I of the Tata Steel PGTI Qualifying School at the Golmuri Golf Course in Jamshedpur on Friday.

Out of a total field of 118 in Pre Qualifying I, the top 25 players qualified for Final Qualifying as the cut came at two-over 146, the PGTI said.

Delhi-based Sawant (66-65) had the day’s best score of seven-under 65 to finish five shots ahead of the rest of the field.

Aniket, who turned pro in 2020, made gains with birdies on the second, third and fourth holes leaving himself a couple of tap-ins. He then recovered well from a tough spot on the eighth with a 20-feet par conversion.

Sawant drove the green on the par-4 10^th to set up another birdie. After dropping a shot on the next, Sawant picked up four more shots thanks to his accurate wedge shots and accurate putting.

Standing out

Aniket said later, “My wedge play and putting stood out for me over these two days.

“I made only one putting error during the event and that was the three-putt on 11 today. I didn’t miss anything else within six feet on the greens.

“Importantly, I set myself a target today of improving upon my first-round score of 66. I managed to achieve that with the clutch putt from six feet on the 18^th. This gives me a lot of confidence heading into the Final Qualifying Stage.”

Anirudh Kamireddypalli (66-70) of Ahmedabad, the other overnight joint leader, finished second on eight-under 136 following his second round of 70.

Pankaj Maandiya and Pintu Haldar took tied third place at five-under 139.

Also read: PGTI Qualifying School 2023 to tee off in Jamshedpur