Kapil Kumar makes a charge in J&K Open round two at JTGC

By Rahul Banerji

Kapil Kumar shot a 4-under 68 for the round two lead of the J&K Open and surge ahead by two shots at the Jammu Tawi Golf Course on Thursday.

The Delhi golfer now sits on a 7 under par 137 total with overnight joint leader, Chandigarh’s Akshay Sharma, slipping to second place on 5-under 139 with a 71 on Thursday.

Delhi’s Harshjeet Singh Sethie (71) was third at 4-under 140 while Tata Steel PGTI Ranking leader Om Prakash Chouhan (70) of Mhow a further shot back in fourth. 

The cut was declared at 6-over 150 with 50 professionals making the grade though no local golfer was able to go through, the PGTI said.

Kapil Kumar, who recently recovered from an illness that kept him away from golf for about a month, was in prime form with his driver and irons on day two on his way to the day’s joint low score.

On the move

Tied third overnight one shot off the lead, Kapil began his charge with a birdie on hole eight followed by birdies on 14, 15 and 16 with his approach shots landing within 10 feet each time. 

“My driving was solid as I hit it long and straight,” Kumar said later. “I was confident about my driving from the start of the day.

“Made a really good par save on the seventh from the bunker. After my illness in August, I’m now slowly getting back to full fitness.

“My swing was a little restricted last week in Hyderabad but this week my physical condition is much better and therefore I’m swinging it well.”

Round one joint leader Karan Pratap Singh shot a 76 to drop to tied eighth at even-par 144.

New trophy

A new tournament trophy was unveiled at the Jammu Tawi Golf Course on Thursday by J&K tourism secretary Dr. Syed Abid Rashid Shah.

The trophy depicts the Chenab Rail Bridge, the world’s highest rail bridge, located in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Also read: Akshay Sharma, Karan Pratap set day one pace at J&K Open