Lahiri recovers to make Florida cut as Fleetwood, Bradley lead

By Rahul Banerji

Anirban Lahiri made a strong recovery from a shaky first round to make the cut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida on Friday. Lahiri, two-over for the first day, was in danger of missing the weekend rounds, but fought his way to a 69 and 1-under for the tournament, good enough to climb into a share of 42^nd place.

England’s Tommy Fleetwood hit two eagles on his way to a 66 that put him at 9-under 135 and was joined by Keegan Bradley who made six birdies in his 68. Fleetwood, a three-time winner on the European Tour, and winner of the 2017 Race of Dubai, is still searching for a maiden win on American soil.

Lahiri showed improved accuracy off the tee after a double-bogey start and though he was to drop a further shot, a long birdie putt have him finally gave him some momentum which he built on before making the turn for home.

Good comeback

On the back nine, Lahiri missed a birdie from just over 10 feet but made the par. He birdied 12^th and then a superb approach left him with a four-footer for birdie on 16^th. On the 18^th, he hit an approach from 129 yards to six feet and holed it for a three-under 69 that took his total to 1-under 143.

Lahiri hit 13 of 14 fairways and 11 of 18 greens in regulation and did not miss from inside 10 feet on the greens.

Big bunch

Fleetwood and Bradley led a bunch of six players by four shots. Francesco Molinari, Honda Classic winner Keith Mitchel and Billy Horschel led a pack of players at 5-under 139 whoch included Argentine Jhonattan Vegas, Kevin Kisner and Canadian Roger Sloan.

A further shot adrift were Masters champions Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, and new face Eddie Pepperell, while Phil Mickelson missed the cut with a second round 78 that was 10 shots worse than his first round.

Diksha Dagar moves up in NSW Open

In Queanbeyan, Australia,Diksha Dagar continued her impressive run in the Women’s New South Wales Open with a solid third round that gave her a chance of a first top 10 finish as a pro outside India.

The left-hander, who has been playing well in Australia in her rookie season, carded a 2-under 69 to follow her earlier 67 that put her on 5-under 208 and five shots behind the leaders, defending champion Meghan MacLaren and Lynn Carlsson, who were on 10-under-par.

Amandeep Drall (70) was tied 32 and Astha Madan (71) tied 34, making it three Indians in the money rounds of a Ladies European Tour event outside India.

Dagar, who won a pro event as an amateur on the Women’s Golf Association of India tour, eagled the third hold and birdied the ninth. She gave away shots on 11^th and 13^th, but made some amends with a closing birdie.

Also read: Lahiri sits three behind leaders in tight Palm Beach battle