By Rahul Banerji
S.S.P. Chawrasia continued to lead the field at the Tata Steel Tour Championship with a 3-under 69 that took his total to 12-under 132 in Jamshedpur on Friday.
Twenty-one-year-old Karan Pratap Singh of Faridabad, in only his second season as a professional, shot a blistering 65 to climb into second place on 11-under 131.
Pune-based Udayan Mane, the 2019 champion, moved into tied third at 10-under 134 following his 66 in the Rs. 1.5 crore event, the PGTI said.
Defending champion Gaganjeet Bhullar also shared third place courtesy of a second round 67.
Chawrasia (63-69), first round leader by four shots, was quick off the blocks on Friday with three birdies in the first four holes.
However, the Kolkata-based SSP three-putted from 15 feet for bogey against the run of play on the sixth. The two-time Indian Open champion then bounced back with some excellent wedge shots that resulted in birdies around the turn.
SSP then struggled over the final stretch with some erratic shots that led to a double-bogey on 15 and bogey on 18. He did manage a birdie on 16.
Chawrasia said later, “I began well but missed a lot of putts today compared to yesterday that led to losing momentum later in the round.
“I did make a good comeback at the turn but the missed chance on 15 was another disappointment.
Table-top worry
“One has to be careful in Beldih to not go over the table-top greens. Landing it a little short gives you a better chance. That’s what even I was doing.”
Karan Pratap (68-65), with two top-10s this season, had eight birdies and a bogey during his round.
Karan landed it within six feet for four of his eight birdies. He also salvaged birdies with a couple of brilliant up and downs from the bunker on 12 and 16.
Karan said, “I was struggling with iron shots on the front-nine but the 10-minute warm-up time after playing at Golmuri and before teeing off at Beldih really helped.
“I began with a birdie on 10 at Beldih. That lifted my confidence as I collected four more birdies thereafter.
“I’m happy with the way I’m playing this week. I had not been consistent during the season having struggled with my ball-striking in the second half.
“But I’m now feeling comfortable with my swing for the past couple of weeks and I feel my hitting is getting better.”
Mane (68-66), third in the PGTI Order of Merit, mixed eight birdies with two bogeys during round two.
Late slip
Mane, who represented India at the Tokyo Olympics earlier this year, had a chip-in on the seventh and was eight-under for the day through 13 holes but dropped two late shots.
Bhullar (67-67) had a birdie-birdie-eagle start but then dropped four shots in exchange for five birdies as he ended up with a second straight 67.
Star attraction Shubhankar Sharma (67-71) slipped six places to tied eighth on 6-under 138 after posting a 71.
Sudhir Sharma of Greater Noida fired a hole-in-one on 10 during his round of 70. To also share eighth place.
Bangalore’s M. Dharma produced the day’s best score of 8-under 64 to be tied 16th on 5-under 139.
Chikkarangappa S. (73), second in the Order of Merit, was T47 on 1-over 145. Joining Chikka were Indian golf legend Jyoti Randhawa (74) and Jamshedpur-based professional Karan Taunk (74).
PGTI Order of Merit leader Karandeep Kochhar (75) of Chandigarh was T55 on 2-over 146.
Kurush Heerjee (77), the second player from Jamshedpur in this field, was tied 69th on 7-over 151.
Also read: SSP soars into Tour C’ship lead with 9-under opening round
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