Khan, Gaurav Pratap in joint lead at Wishtown Feeder event

By Rahul Banerji

Wasim Khan of Delhi and Noida’s Gaurav Pratap Singh surged into the joint second round lead with scores of 6-under-61 in the Tata Steel PGTI Feeder Tour at the Jaypee Greens Wishtown on Wednesday.

Wasim (62-61), a former PGTI Qualifying School topper, and Gaurav (62-61), a former winner on the PGTI and two-time Feeder Tour winner, posted error-free rounds to move up from their overnight tied fourth position on totals of 11-under-123.

Delhi’s Manav Jaini shot the tournament’s best round so far, a flawless 7-under-60, to move into tied third at 10-under-124 along with Gurgaon’s Abhishek Kuhar who had a 4-under-63 on Wednesday.

The cut came at 1-under-133 with 40 professionals making the grade at the par-67 course.

Clean putting

Wasim Khan rode a hot putter as he was on target from within 10 feet every time. He also played some outstanding wedge shots and ended up making three birdies each on the front and back nines and closed the day with birdies on the last two holes.

Khan said, “It’s been a great week for me so far as I’ve dropped just one shot in two rounds. Today my chipping and putting did the job for me.

“My good friend Rashid Khan often gives me valuable advice and tips. Even last week he told me a few things about my game. His advice has been working well for me.”

Gaurav Pratap Singh, who was striking it well, picked up four shots on the front nine and added two more on the only two par-5 holes on the course, the 11^th and 17^th.

Gaurav recovered well from the bunker on the 17^th and then made a good par save on the 18^th to end the day high on confidence.

Bogey-free

Gaurav said, “I’ve played well over the first two days as I’ve had just one bad hole so far where I dropped a couple of strokes. Hitting the wedges close and converting my chances on the greens will be the key on the final day.”

Jaini climbed seven places from his overnight tied 10^th to T3 as a result of his sizzling 60. A two-time winner on the PGTI, he landed it within six feet on six occasions to set up birdies. He almost holed out from 45 yards on the sixth where it stopped a couple of inches from the flag.

Abhishek Kuhar’s round featured six birdies and two bogeys. He had a chip-in on the 11^th. The overnight joint leader dropped two places on day two.

Feeder Tour Order of Merit leader Yuvraj Singh Sandhu (63) of Chandigarh was in fifth place at nine-under-125.

Jalandhar’s Victor Hans (66) and Lucknow’s Rajesh Kumar Rawat (66), the other two joint leaders from round one, slipped to tied seventh at 7-under-127.

Also read: Come-from-behind win for Rashid Khan at Chandigarh GC