By Rahul Banerji
Overnight leader Shaurya Binu posted a second straight six-under 66 in round two to stay ahead at the Rs 1 crore Dream Valley Group presents Vooty Masters at the Vooty Golf County in Vikarabad on Thursday.
The Bangalore teenager took his 36-hole total to 12-under 132, who shots ahead of Chandigarh’s Angad Cheema who shot a 65 to end the day on 10-under 134, the PGTI said.
The cut was declared at 1-over par 145 with 60 professionals making it into the final two days.
Binu dropped a stroke early on Thursday but bounced back with an eagle on the very next hole where he landed his approach within four feet of the hole.
The 19-year-old then picked up three more birdies to make the turn at 4-under for the day.
After making a birdie and bogey each over the next six holes, Binu closed out with birdies on the last two holes with conversions from 20 and 35 feet respectively.
“I did well to carry forward the momentum from round one,” Binu said later.
“My placement off the tees and with my approach shots was brilliant and I took advantage of two short par-4s which were within my range with the driver.
Lucky break
“Fortunately for me, I missed my shots on the right side of the green and managed to make an up and downs from there.”
Cheema (69-65) had an eagle, six birdies and a bogey, to rise five places to second on the day.
With a successful 2023 season behind him that fetched fifth place in the PGTI Order of Merit, Cheema drove the green on the par-4 13th hole to set up a 10-foot eagle conversion.
Bangalore-based Rahil Gangjee (67) was third on 9-under 135 while Varun Chopra (65) of the US and Chile’s Matias Dominguez (69) were tied fourth on 8-under 136.
Reigning champion Manu Gandas shot an eight-under 64, the week’s best so far that saw him climb 60 spots to tied ninth on 6-under 138.
The round included an eagle, seven birdies including six on the trot, and a bogey.
Gandas holed his approach from 100 yards for eagle on the par-4 13th hole and also fell one short of his course record of 63 set during the 2022 edition.
Vikarabad-based Mohd Azhar (70) was the only local player to make the cut on 4-under 140 for tied 15th place.
Round 2 leaders
132: Shaurya Binu (66-66)
134: Angad Cheema (69-65)
135: Rahil Gangjee (68-67)
136: Varun Chopra (71-65); Matias Dominguez (67-69)
Also read: Bangalore teen Shaurya Binu takes day one lead at Vooty Masters
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