The Delhi Golf Club is understood to be a cheerful looking floor for Indians and S Chikkarangappa cashed in on it to take a three-shot lead on the midway stage of the DGC Open on Friday.
The 29-year-old carded a bogey-free six-under-par 66 to maneuver into double digits after the primary two rounds of the Asian Tour occasion at 10-under.
Those closest to him embody two Indians – Rashid Khan (70) and Om Prakash Chauhan (68) in addition to defending champion Nithithorn Thippong (70) of Thailand.
Chikkarangappa is coming off a joint sixth-place end eventually week’s occasion in Thailand, and confirmed good kind and enthusiasm.
“On this course, I’m just learning how to play every year. I’ve been playing well. Yes today 12 par with six birdies was amazing”, quoted @chikkarangappa After his wonderful second spherical, is at the moment on high of the leaderboard. #thedgcoopen @asiantourgolf @mastercardindia pic.twitter.com/oIdigH1z3
— The DGC Open (@TheDGCOpen) March 17, 2023
“I’m in good form. Last week’s performance in Thailand has definitely boosted me and brought a lot of confidence,” he mentioned after his spherical. “I’m placing very well. My caddy and I mentioned that we might attempt to hit the fairways and I’m hitting the ball properly.”
On Friday, Chikkarangappa began with a birdie on the tenth and went on a scorching streak, carding birdies on the twelfth, 14th and fifteenth. That momentum couldn’t be sustained all through the spherical, however he made birdies on the final two holes to do properly.
For a lot of the day, Rashid was Chikkarangappa’s closest rival earlier than two late bogeys (on 14 and 18) gave the others an opportunity to catch up. This included Chauhan, who managed to undergo his rounds with out lacking a shot.
“Have to say I’m very pleased with my round today. The DGC is a course where even the slightest mistake can spell trouble. I only missed one fairway today, on the nine when I hit the ball to the left, into the bunker Hitted my second shot and played up and down from there,” mentioned the Mhow golfer.
It was a great day generally for the Indian contingent as 24 of the 49 golfers who began the event made the minimize, coming in at two-over 146, leaving 76 gamers. Those watching motion over the weekend embody Jyoti Randhawa (73-69), Shiv Kapur (75-69), Shamim Khan (72-70), SSP Chaurasia (72-70) and Manav Jaini (74-72). Five Indians are within the high 18 on the leaderboard.
Justin Quiban, one in every of three gamers in second place in a single day, shot 1-under 71 with an eagle, two birdies and three bogeys and is 6-under with Thailand’s Chonlatit Chuenboongam (71-67), who Lost within the sport of sudden demise. Last week in Thailand.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
