Jamal holds on to lead as event host Jeev makes the cut

By Rahul Banerji

Jamal Hossain turned in a solid display to hold on to the day two lead of the Rs 1.5 crore Jeev Milkha Singh Invitational presented by TAKE Sports at Chandigarh Golf Club on Friday.

The Bangladesh golfer did not have the best of days but still managed to return a resolute 4-under par 68 to stay one shot ahead of Delhi’s Sachin Baisoya, the PGTI said.

Jamal, 38, already a winner this year and sixth on the Tata Steel PGTI Ranking, is 11-under 133 (65-68) after 36 holes while Baisoya (66-68) too held on to his overnight second place.

Chandarjeet Yadav from Chandimandir was third on 9-under 135 following his 67 on the day.

Chandigarh’s Abhijit Singh Chadha shot the day’s joint lowest score of 66 to be the best-placed among the local professionals at tied fourth on 8-under 136.

Faridabad-based Karan Pratap Singh too carded a 66 to share fourth place with Chadha.

Rahil Gangjee was the third player to return a 66 and was tied sixth on 6-under 138 along with local golfers Yuvraj Singh Sandhu, Angad Cheema and Brashwarpal Singh.

Sudhir Sharma of Greater Noida made a hole-in-one on hole 14 in his 69 that placed him tied 13^th on 4-under 140.

Interestingly, no one has managed a hole-in-one on 11 where the prize is a Maruti Jimny.  

First-timer

Indian golf legend and tournament host Jeev Milkha Singh (72-70) posted a 70 on day two at his home course and rose 19 places to tied 28^th on 2-under 142.

Jeev thus made the cut which came at level par 144 for the first time at his event after missing out in the previous five editions. Fifty-six professionals and two amateurs made it to the weekend.

With his driving and putting not clicking, Jamal Hossain only managed two birdies and a bogey till the 10^th hole.

He then had a late surge with birdies on holes 13, 16 and 18 that helped him retain top spot on the leaderboard.

“My iron play and chipping saved the day for me,” the Dhaka-based golfer said later. “Those were the only aspects of my game that stood out today.

Cold putter

“Making 31 putts was a little disappointing but I managed to focus hard enough towards the end of my round to make those much-needed birdies to stay ahead.”

Incidentally, Jamal is keen to win in Chandigarh after having come close to victory at the venue on multiple occasions in the past.

Tata Steel PGTI Ranking leader Om Prakash Chouhan (75) was tied 49^th on level-par 144.

Round 2 leaders

133: Jamal Hossain (65-68)

134: Sachin Baisoya (66-68)

135: Chandarjeet Yadav (68-67)

Also read: Jamal Hossain grabs early lead at Jeev Milkha Invitational