Mukesh climbs to top, Sujjan T-4th after second round

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 22

Chandigarh’s Sujjan Singh carded a one-under 71 to jump to tied-fourth place on the second day of the Kolkata Classic even as Feroz Singh Garewal slipped four places to tied-7th position at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club today.     

Tied with the likes of Shamim Khan in the seventh place on Day 1, Sujjan had roller-coaster round, carding five birdies and four bogeys for a total of three-under 141 at the close of second day.   

Garewal had a steady second round, but a double on the 9th and a bogey on the 13th hole meant that the city golfer had to content with a tied-7th position. 

The seasoned Mukesh Kumar, meanwhile, grabbed the halfway lead courtesy his second round of four-under 68. The man from Mhow was ahead by one shot with a total of seven-under 137.

Delhi’s Shamim Khan fired a second round score of 68 to occupy second place at six-under-138. His was the only bogey-free round of the day.

Pre-tournament favourite SSP Chawrasia of Kolkata brought in a card of 70 to end the day in tied fourth place at three-under-141.

The cut fell at five-over 149. Fifty-four professionals made the cut.

Mukesh Kumar (69-68) moved up two spots from overnight tied-third to first as a result of a determined second round effort which saw him fire five birdies at the expense of just one bogey.

The 51-year-old Mukesh began his ascent to the top with a 25-feet birdie conversion on the fourth on Wednesday.

Mukesh’s birdie on the eighth was negated by a bogey on the 10th but the oldest winner on the Asian Tour came roaring back with a trail of birdies on the 14th, 15th and 16th. He was in troubled waters on the 15th and 16th but made excellent recoveries to extract birdies on both holes.

“I have two victories at the RCGC, but it’s been a while since I last won here, definitely over a decade. So I’m eager to perform well this time. I was quite pleased with the way I recovered on a couple of holes today. I was in the bunker on the 15th and in the rough on the 16th, but managed birdies on both occasions,” said the winner of a record 18 titles on the PGTI.

Shamim Khan (70-68) climbed from overnight tied-seventh to second place after delivering the only bogey-free round of the day. Shamim sank three birdies from a range of 12 to 30 feet today.

While overnight joint leader Chikkarangappa of Bengaluru slipped to third at five-under-139 after shooting a 71 on Day 2, local favourite SSP Chawrasia made major gains with a 70 that took him from overnight tied-18th to tied-fourth at three-under 141 as he joined Chandigarh’s Sujjan Singh and Sri Lankan N Thangaraja (71).

Chiragh Kumar, the round one joint leader, slipped to tied 14th at even-par 144 after his second round of 76.

Delhi’s Rashid Khan and PGTI Order of Merit leader Ajeetesh Sandhu of Chandigarh were in tied-31st place at three-over-147.