Ex-Kolkatan Rahil Gangjee edges ahead at Players C’ship

By Rahul Banerji

Former Kolkata boy Rahil Gangjee returned a 4-under 66 to edge ahead of the field in the Tata Steel PGTI Players Championship at Tollygunge Club on Wednesday.

Gangjee (64-66) found his touch with the longer putts at his original home course to move up one place from overnight tied second to lead on 10-under 130.

Gangjee, who is now based in Bangalore, led Delhi’s Shamim Khan (66-65), who had the day’s joint best score of 65, by one shot.

Shamim climbed 12 places to tied second on 9-under 131, the PGTI said.

Opening round leader Ajeetesh Sandhu (63-68) joined Shamim in tied second with a 68 on Wednesday.

Indian golf legend Jeev Milkha Singh followed up his first round 65 with a 68 to stay tied eighth for the second day running on 7-under 133.

Local favourite and two-time Indian Open winner S.S.P. Chawrasia shot a second straight 68 for tied 17^th place on 4-under 136.

The cut fell at level-par 140 with 51 professionals making the money rounds.

Good recovery

A bogey on three didn’t seem to affect Rahil Gangjee who came up with two accurate second shots and two 18 to 25 feet conversions to pick up four birdies midway into his round.

Gangjee, a winner on the Japan Golf Tour and Asian Tour, bogeyed 14 but bounced back once again with two long birdie conversions on 15 and 16.

Gangjee said later, “After an exhausting day in round one, I had a good rest last night.

“As I’m still getting used to the heat here after having played in much cooler conditions in Japan last year, teeing off in the morning today suited me.

“It was much cooler compared to the first round when I teed off in the afternoon.

“I made more long-range putts today as compared to round one. I’m always confident playing at Tollygunge since I know this course so well having grown up here.

“When you stand on the tee, you know exactly where to land your shot. So that’s always an advantage.”

Accurate wedges

Shamim Khan’s wedges were on fire as he chipped in twice, first for birdie on three and then for eagle on 13.

Shamim, who began the day with a 45-foot birdie conversion also chipped to within inches of the cup for birdies on seven and 15.

Khan’s round featured another birdie on the fifth along with two bogeys.

Sandhu, who shared second place with Shamim, produced five birdies and three bogeys during his second round.

The four players in tied fourth place on 8-under 132 were Yuvraj Singh Sandhu, Veer Ahlawat and Sri Lankans N. Thangaraja and Vijitha Bandara.

Also read: Ajeetesh Sandhu scorches Tolly course for first round lead