Round two co-leader S. Chikkarangappa in action at the Chandigarh Golf Club on Friday. Image courtesy PGTI.
By Rahul Banerji
Local talent was to the fore with Karandeep Kochhar moving into the joint lead on day two of the Jeev Milkha Singh Invitational presented by Take Solutions along with Bangalore’s S. Chikkarangappa at the Chandigarh Golf Club on Friday.
Karandeep (66-50) had a round of two-under-70 while Chikka (70-66), as he is popularly known, fired the second day’s best score of six-under-66. They were on eight-under 136s at the Rs. 1.5 crore event.
Gurgaon-based Jyoti Randhawa made a major move on Friday with a 68 that put him third at seven-under-137.
Chandigarh’s Sujjan Singh also had a 66 to lie tied fourth alongside Bangladesh’s Md Siddikur Rahman (68) at six-under-138.
Round one leader Shiv Kapur, who matched the course record with his 65 on Thursday, slipped to tied 10th as his second round effort of 75 took his total to four-under-140.
Jeev exits
Indian golf legend, tournament host and local favourite Jeev Milkha Singh missed the cut as he followed up his first round 77 with a 73 on Friday to total six-over-150.
The cut was declared at two-over-146. Fifty-four professionals and one amateur made the cut.
Kochhar, overnight second with a bogey-free first round, had a tougher time in round two. Superb putting came to the rescue after he came up with a few errant tee shots.
The local lad, who at 17 became the youngest winner on the PGTI in 2016 while still an amateur, level par through 16 holes before a final flourish with two birdies.
Hot putter
Kochhar said, “I was in good rhythm in round one but today I had to grind it out. My ball-striking was not up to the mark but my putter kept me in the game. The pins were a little tougher today so scoring wasn’t that easy.”
Chikka climbed from tied 13th to the top courtesy a fabulous 66. He opened with a bogey but then fought back with a 15-foot eagle conversion on the second that was the turning point of his round.
It was one-way traffic for Chikka after that as he knocked in five birdies between the seventh and the 18th holes thanks to some exceptional wedge-play.
He chipped-in for birdie on the 11th and left himself tap-in birdie putts on three other holes.
Better swing
“I wasn’t swinging it well for some time but I feel that changed last week at the Panasonic Open where I finished in the top-20,” Chikka said later.
“I had four under-par rounds at the Delhi Golf Club for the first time. I’m shaping the ball more consistently now.
“I haven’t made too many putts so far this week as I’ve not been able to read the greens. My good wedge shots set up a few birdies for me today.”
Randhawa (69-68), who has also found his tempo this week, rose four positions from overnight tied seventh as a result of six birdies and two bogeys.
Panasonic Open winner Khalin Joshi posted a second straight 70 to be tied 10th at four-under-140 along with overnight leader Shiv Kapur.
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