Eleven-time Asian Tour winner and Arjuna awardee Gaganjeet Bhullar grabbed the share of the lead with a second round score of one-under-71 and with an overall score of three-under-141 on the second day of the inaugural Rs 1.5-crore IGPL Invitational Chandigarh Leg at Chandigarh Golf Club on Thursday. Bhullar, who carded an opening round score of two-under-70 at the 7,202-yard Chandigarh Golf Club course on Wednesday, kept his cool to score his second consecutive under-par score of the tournament to be co-leader with Shaurya Binu after the second round in the three-round tournament.
Bhullar began the day with a bogey on the first hole before he sank a birdie each on the second and fourth hole. The 37-year-old then sank a birdie on the 12th hole before a bogey on the 14th hole along with pars on the remaining holes to end his second round with a score of one-under-71. “It will be nice to begin a new IGPL Tour win in Chandigarh, a city which has been like a home for me. So, a win tomorrow will mean a lot. Apart from my own game, I have also enjoyed playing and interacting with young golfers, who are still in their teens. They have the talent and a great future,” Bhullar said after his second round.
Overnight leader Shaurya Binu, who had carded a first round score of three-under-69, carded a second round par score of 72 to be placed tied at the top spot with Bhullar with an overall score of three-under-141. Binu, who is from Bengaluru, sank three birdies against a bogey in the first seven holes. He then sank another birdie on the 12th hole before he made a bogey on the 14th hole. Binu then made a double bogey on the 15th hole before making a bogey on the 16th hole before he ended the round with a par score of 72.
“I won’t say putting was a problem. My game just did not click after the first few holes. Those three (14-15-16) holes do not suit my eye,” said Binu.
Kapil Kumar and Chandigarh golfer Harendra Gupta were placed tied-third with an overall score of one-under-143. Kumar, who had carded a score of one-over-73 on the opening day, carded a second round score of two-under-70. Gupta, who had carded an opening round score of one-under-71, carded a second round score of par-72. Veer Ganapathy, Sarthak Chibber, Kartik Singh, Sanju Kumar, Ranjit Singh and Jahnavi Bakshi were placed tied-fifth with an overall score of par-144 each.
Friday will see the third and final round of the Chandigarh leg of the IGPL. The Rs 1.5-crore prize purse tournament is seeing the presence of 54 players — 38 men, 10 women and six amateur golfers. The mixed format league is being held under the aegis of WGAI, Indian Golf Union and Professional Golfers Association of India and will be played in 10 venues, including the last two legs in Dubai and Colombo.
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