Ludhiana-based Pukhraj Singh Gill shot a bogey-free 63 to take the second day lead at the Haryana Open in Panchkula on Friday. Image courtesy PGTI.
By Rahul Banerji
Pukhraj Singh Gill produced the day’s best score of 9 under par 63 to take the halfway lead on 12 under 132 at the Rs 1 crore Haryana Open at Panchkula Golf Club on Friday.
Gill’s flawless second round helped him jump 16 places from overnight tied 17th, his 63 on the day also a personal best after an opening 69, the PGTI said.
Teenage rookie Anshul Kabthiyal (65-68) of Delhi posted a 68 on Friday to climb one place into second on 11 under 133.
In tied third place on 10 under 134 were Chandigarh’s Angad Cheema (65) and Akshay Sharma (66) round one leader Rahil Gangjee (71), Aryan Roopa Anand (65) of Bangalore and Delhi’s Kshitij Naveed Kaul (69).
The cut came at 1 under 143 with 52 professionals going through to the weekend.
Round three live at https://www.youtube.com/live/jYZrjoCfqMg?feature=shared
The 28-year-old Gill from the Ranjitgarh Golf Course in Phillaur, Punjab, had three birdies on the front nine of which one came was off a monster drive and another from a massive 35-foot putt.
Gill, a professional since 2018 and searching for his first title, then had a field day on the back nine.
He drove the par-4 11th green to set up a birdie before adding five more to his card including a tap-in on the par-3 13th and a chip-in on hole 18.
Familiar track
“I’ve spent a lot of time in Chandigarh over the years while growing up so I’ve played quite a lot at the Panchkula Golf Club too in previous years.” Gill said later.
“I’m therefore very familiar with the layout of this course which always helps. I’m delighted to have shot my lowest ever score in a tournament.
“I was just thinking well today. My hitting has been good for some time and playing in familiar surroundings, I felt my game was sharper than usual.
“Was able to capitalise on my opportunities especially on the back nine. I also rectified a few things that weren’t up to the mark in round one, for example, taking the correct aim on my tee shots and playing better with my wedges.
“I made a couple of fantastic recoveries too on 14 and 18. The birdie chip-in on 18 was the icing on the cake to a wonderful round. It was one of those days for me when everything went my way.”
Nineteen-year-old rookie Kabthiyal ended the day a shot behind the leader thanks to his 68 that featured six birdies and two bogeys.
Defending champion Jairaj Singh Sandhu (73) of Chandigarh closed the day in tied 16th place on 6 under 138.
Also read: Gangjee shoots a 63 for first round lead at Haryana Open 2024
Discover more from Tee Time Tales
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.