By Rahul Banerji
Fortunes shifted at the TNGF course on Wednesday with change in the Chennai Open leaderboard and a two-way tie at the top.
Gurgaon golfer Manu Gandas and Sri Lanka’s N. Thangaraja made the big move to jointly lead the Rs 40 lakh on 11-under 133 at the Tamil Nadu Golf Federation golf course.
While Gandas had a flawless seven-under 65, the day’s joint lowest score thanks to his wedge and bunker play, Thangaraja produced a five-under 67 courtesy some outstanding iron work.
Bangalore’s Khalin Joshi (68), winner last week at Coimbatore, was third at nine-under 135.
Abhijit Singh Chadha was the other joint low scorer of the day, and his 65 placed the Chandigarh golfer in tied fourth on eight-under 136.
Chadha was alongside city-mate Karandeep Kochhar, the first round leader, who shot a 71 to slip three places.
The cut fell at two-over 146 on a day the professionals were a little more accustomed to conditions at the TNGF, a course where most of them are seeing in an event for the first time.
A total of 57 professionals made the cut for the money rounds.
Bunker buster
Gandas (68-65) pulled off some superb recoveries from the bunker, with exceptional effiorts on the fifth, eighth and 10th holes to extract birdies from tough positions.
He also landed a few approach shots within four feet to pick up four more birdies.
“I’m feeling good about my game right now as I have worked on a few technical things connected with my swing,” Gandas said later.
“The conditions were a little different today due to the overnight rain but I adapted well and also managed to get myself out of trouble on a few occasions thanks to my bunker shots.”
Thangaraja (66-67) continued to hit it close for the second day in succession not leaving himself any long birdie putts.
The experienced Sri Lankan sank birdie putts from within seven feet on 10, 13, 18 and two.
A lip out on the seventh hole led to his only bogey of the day. Two good chips then set up easy birdies for him on eight and nine.
Thangaraja said, “My accuracy with the irons has set it up for me going into the last two days.
Practice pays
“For two days I haven’t had to make any long putts as I’ve hit everything close. I was practicing in Dubai for the last few months and focusing on my iron-play. All that work now seems to be paying off.”
Chadha sank consecutive eagles on the par-5 eighth and ninth holes in his round of 65.
The Chandigarh golfer drained a 20-footer on eight and followed up with a monster four-iron second shot from 235 yards on nine that set up a three-foot eagle putt.
Defending champion Mithun Perera of Sri Lanka was tied 20th at two-under 142.
Among the Chennai-based professionals, S Prasanth and Sandeep Syal, were the only two to make the cut.
Prasanth was tied 40th at one-over 145 while Syal was tied 49th at two-over 146.
Also read: Brisk start for Karandeep Kochhar on maiden Chennai outing
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