Hot wedges help Gupta scorch Aravalli course with blistering 64

By Rahul Banerji

Chandigarh’s golfers continued to dominate the leader-board in the Tata Steel PGTI Feeder Tour event in Faridabad with Harendra Gupta hitting a blistering 8-under-64 to surge ahead by four shots at 10-under-134 at the Aravalli Golf Course on Wednesday.

Nine-time Tour winner Gupta’s incredible round featured two eagles twos, six birdies and a double-bogey on the second day of action.

Three golfers were tied for second place at 6-under-138 – Chandigarh -based rookies Amrit Lal (72) and Shabeg Singh Kooner (69) – and Sri Ganganagar’s Sandeep Singh (69).

The cut fell at 6-over-150 with 38 making it to the third and final round.

Gupta (70-64), overnight tied ninth, leapfrogged the field with some outstanding wedge play.

He was 1-over through four holes after a double-bogey before launching a recovery that began with two birdies before the turn, landing his approach within inches of the flag on the second occasion.

Hot run

A couple of quality chip-putts earned him two more birdies after the turn but the seasoned Gupta really turned it on at the very end, picking up five shots on the last three holes.

On the 16^th he holed his second shot from 65 yards and on the 17^th  again holed his second shot, this time from the bunker, from 30 yards, to pick up consecutive eagle twos.

Gupta capped the run with another wedge shot from 120 yards on the 18^th for a four-foot birdie conversion.

Harendra said later, “My wedge play today was probably the best it has ever been. It was unbelievable to make two eagle-twos in succession and then back it up with another birdie right at the end. It was a remarkable recovery considering I was one-over through the first four holes.

Confidence-boost

“I’ve not had a very consistent season so far so this round will do me a world of good. I’ll need to be accurate with the tee shots in the final round as the fairways are narrow and the rough is up.”

Teenager Amrit Lal, the round one leader, slipped one spot on Wednesday after returning a 72.

Delhi’s Sachin Baisoya carded an error-free 7-under-65 to share fifth place at 5-under-139 along with fellow Delhi golfer Jaiveer Singh Atwal (72).

Gurgaon’s Kushal Singh also sank two eagle-twos during his round of 70, finishing the day tied 10^th at 3-under-141.

Faridabad’s Abhinav Lohan (4-under-140) and Ramesh Kumar (1-under-143) were tied seventh and tied 12^th respectively.

Also read: Kushal Singh takes early lead at PGTI Feeder Tour opener