Khalin Joshi takes narrow lead into Moving Day at J&K Open

By Rahul Banerji

Overcoming hot and humid conditions, Bangalore’s Khalin Joshi took the round two lead of the J&K Open on six-under par 138 at the Jammu Tawi Golf Course on Thursday.

Joshi’s four-under 68  was the day’s best card at the event presented by J&K Tourism and helped him move up two places and into a one-shot lead.

Overnight joint leader Yuvraj Singh Sandhu of Chandigarh stayed in contention with a resolute 70 that saw him close the day in second place on five-under 139.

Bangladesh’s Jamal Hossain (70) was third on four-under 140 while Delhi’s Arjun Prasad (72), the overnight joint leader, was a further shot back in fourth place.

DLF Academy ward Kartik Sharma’s 68, the day’s joint lowest score, was also the first bogey-free round of the tournament.

It took Sharma to tied fifth place along with another Gurgaon golfer Veer Ahlawat (71), Mari Muthu (70) of Bangalore and Delhi’s Shamim Khan (72).

Indonesian Open runner-up Rashid Khan was tied ninth on level-par 144, Udayan Mane T13 on one-over 145, Manu Gandas 18^th at two-over 146 and defending champion Honey Baisoya T41 on 151.

High scores

On a day 17 under-par scores were recorded, eight more than on Wednesday, the cut came at eight-over 152 with 54 four professionals making the money rounds.

All the J&K-based players missed the cut.

Joshi picked up a birdie early thanks to a great lob wedge shot. The Asian Tour winner then made pars all the way to the turn.

He began to seize the initiative on his second nine with an early 15-foot birdie conversion.

Joshi followed up with some accurate wedge shots that led to three quick birdies. He had his only bogey of the day with three holes to go and made a good par save from the bunker on the closing hole.

“I drove it really well today and was quite accurate from a distance of 50 to 75 yards to set up short birdie putts,” Joshi said later.

Easier conditions

“I guess it is a little easier to score in the morning session as compared to the afternoon session and I made the most of my start time today.”

Sandhu (69-70) was on fire on the front nine as he sank birdies on the second and fourth and holed his approach from 78 yards for an eagle-two on the fifth hole.

Yuvraj then stumbled on the back nine making three bogeys but pulled one shot back at the end with an up-and-down effort from the bunker for a birdie to close out his day.

Sandhu said, “The back nine today was a test of endurance for me more than a test of golf because of the tough weather conditions as it was hot and humid and there was no wind to comfort the players.”

Also read: Yuvraj Sandhu, Arjun Prasad share first-round lead at J&K Open