Gangjee takes lead, Sandhu gets hole-in-one

Kobe (Japan), September 27 

Defending champion Rahil Gangjee moved into sole lead at the Panasonic Open Golf Championship with a flawless 8-under 63 while Ajeetesh Sandhu climbed to tied-sixth here today. Sandhu holed an ace on his way to a 5-under 66. At 9-under, Gangjee leads by one shot. Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa shot a course record-tying 62 to move into second place alongside countryman Shugo Imahira (69), South Korea’s Sanghee Lee (67) and Lu Wei-chih (69) of Chinese Taipei.

As Gangjee went through the day with eight birdies, Sandhu had two birdies against a bogey on the front-nine and added another birdie on the 10th. Then came the hole-in-one on the 211-yard par-3 11th hole. He finished it off with a birdie on the 18th hole. “Yesterday I was trying hard to stay patient,” said Gangjee. “I just wanted to finish under-par and it was nice to finish with that eagle (on Day 1). I had a good feeling coming back today. I know the birdies are there. You just need to go get them. I started holing putts today and the birdies just kept coming and then I lost track of it. It’s nice to lose track once in a while. Putting was the main difference but I hit it pretty good too,” added Gangjee, who ended a 14-year title drought at this event last year. 

Bhullar, Sharma find form

St Andrews: Gaganjeet Bhullar shot a 4-under 68 to climb to tied-42nd, while Shubhankar Sharma made a huge leap from tied-104th to tied-60th after a 5-under in the second round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship here today. Bhullar was 7-under, while Sharma was a stroke behind at the halfway stage. 

The first three rounds will be played on three courses — the Kingsbarns, St Andrews Old Course and Carnoustie — in no particular order, and those making the cut will return to the Old Course for the final round. 

After a 3-under in the first round at the Kingsbarns, Bhullar made three birdies, an eagle and a bogey at the Old Course. Sharma, who had struggled on the Kingsbarns with a 1-under on Thursday, also found his form on the Old Course, making three birdies and an eagle.

Matthew Jordan followed up his first-round 66 with an 8-under 64 to take a one-shot halfway lead.

Lahiri shoots 72

Napa (US): Anirban Lahiri started well only to give away shots on the back-nine to end up with a modest even-par 72 and lie tied-73rd after the first round of the Safeway Open here. Lahiri chipped in from 45 feet, made a couple of 17-footers for birdies, but missed three putts from inside eight feet for three costly shots. — Agencies