S Chikkarangappa loved a bogey-free day to card six-under (complete 10-under) and leap from an in a single day tied-sixth to solo lead on Day 2 of the $750,000 DGC Open in New Delhi on Friday. He now holds a three-stroke benefit over compatriot Rashid Khan who made bogeys on fifteenth and 18th holes however managed to carry on to his second spot underneath overcast situations.
“The course was loads softer and it was a lot simpler to assault the flags. If the greens get firmer and it is sunny, it performs much more troublesome, so I might say luck was on my facet with the climate,” Chikkarangappa stated.
The 29-year-old got here into the competitors on the again of a tied-sixth end at Worldwide Collection Thailand final week, and the arrogance confirmed.
“I’m in a very good type, for certain. Final week’s efficiency in Thailand has given me lots of confidence. In fact, the cool climate helped me all through the spherical,” he added.
Teeing off from again 9, Chikka birdied on the tenth, twelfth, 14th, and fifteenth holes to set the tone. Issues slowed down a bit after that however Chikka ensured he did not drop a shot. He closed the day with consecutive birdies on the eighth and ninth to avoid the sphere.
“I missed just a few putts in my again 9 (holes 1-9) however then I made birdies on the final two holes. General, six birdies with 12 pars is a tremendous outcome.”
“I have been placing rather well. My caddy and I made a decision to only try to hit the fairways, and I will take it from there,” stated Chikka who fully shunned his driver on the day to seek out extra fairways.
Rashid, the perfect Indian on view on Wednesday, shot two-under to complete with an total seven-under. The 32-year-old had earlier pressured on the significance of getting bogey-free days however ended up dropping photographs on the fifteenth and 18th holes. Birdies on the eighth, twelfth, thirteenth, and seventeenth ensured he stored his second spot earlier than the skilled Om Prakash Chouhan joined him later within the day.
Chouhan, who has had two top-10 finishes out of three begins on the PGTI tour this yr, was in a single day T-11 thanks largely to a Sixteenth-hole bogey that ended his possibilities of a doable top-five end. He was extra cautious on Day 2, casting off the driving force and counting on his irons to hit the greens.
“It’s a course the place even the smallest mishit can result in a bogey. I missed only one fairway at this time (on gap 9) after I hit the ball left, bought my second shot into the bunker, and made an amazing up and down from there,” the 36-year-old from Mhow stated.
“Issues are going based on my plan and for the primary time on this course, in all probability as a result of I play and apply at Kalhaar in Ahmedabad, the place the situations and the inexperienced speeds are very comparable.”
“I did miss fairly just a few putts for birdie however total, I’m very pleased with the way in which I’ve performed to date. The greens are fairly onerous however the fairways are enjoying smooth so these are good situations for us. I did suppose it’d rain however that has additionally not occurred to date,” he stated.
The skilled bunch of Gaganjeet Bhullar, Jyoti Randhawa, Shiv Kapur, and SSP Chawrasia have been among the many 24 Indians who made the reduce.
Defending champion Nitithorn Thippong and his Thai compatriot Sadom Kaewkanjana additionally ended with seven-under to complete tied-second.