Lahiri holds on to lead at PGTI Players C''ship

Published Wed, Jun 30 10 08:23 PM

Pune, Jun 30 (PTI) Anirban Lahiri held on to his first round lead after posting a four under 68 on day two of the Aircel PGTI Players Championship here today. Lahiri leads by two strokes as his total stands at 11 under 133. Himmat Singh Rai is in second position at nine under 135. The cut was declared at seven over 151. Fifty-three professionals and one amateur made the cut. Lahiri (65-68), the reigning Aircel PGTI Order of Merit champion, continued to stay ahead of the rest of the field with the help of a solid 68 that included five birdies and a bogey at the Oxford Golf & Country Club. He was not at his best with the putter but he capitalised on the par five holes (fourth, ninth, 11th, 16th), making birdies on all four of them. "I was in good hitting form today but my putting left a lot to be desired. I could have had a much better score but I left about three shots out there since I missed quite a few birdie putts inside 10 feet. However, it was great to score birdies on all the par 5s today," Lahiri said. Himmat (66-69) kept in touch with the leader as he came up with a three under 69 on day two to move his total to nine under 135. Himmat made five birdies against two bogeys. He chipped-in for birdie on the 17th. "I carried the momentum from the first round and continued to hit it well. The birdie from the chip-in on the 17th was crucial as it helped me end the day on a positive note and put me in the right frame of mind for the third round," said Himmat. Karanjit Singh Sandhu is in third place at eight under 136 while C Muniyappa is a further three strokes back in fourth position. Gaganjeet Bhullar and Mukesh Kumar are in joint ninth at two under 142. Rajiv Datar of Pune lies tied 24th at one over 145. Jaideep Patwardhan (two over 146) and Gurki Shergill (three over 147), two other Pune-based professionals, are placed tied 28th and tied 33rd respectively. Amish Jaitha of Pune, the lone amateur to make the cut, is placed tied 41st with a two-day total of five over 149. PTI SHN

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