Overnight leader Akshay Sharma of Chandigarh in action on day two of the SECL Chhattisgarh Open at New Raipur on Wednesday. Image courtesy DP World PGTI.
By Rahul Banerji
Chandigarh’s Akshay Sharma fired a second bogey-free round in succession to extend his domination of the SECL Chhattisgarh Open in New Raipur on Wednesday.
The overnight leader returned a second straight 9 under par 60. To open up a three-shot lead on 18 under 120 in the DP World PGTI’s season-opener at the par-69 Fairway Golf & Lake Resort.
Honey Baisoya and Anshul Kabthiyal, tied for fourth overnight two strokes off the lead, returned 8 under 61s on Wednesday to move into joint second place at 15 under 123, the Tour said.
Former Order of Merit champion Veer Ahlawat, was tied for ninth on 11 under 127.
The 36-hole cut fell at 6 under 132 with 51 professionals making the final two rounds.
Sharma (60-60), overnight leader by one shot, once again equalled the low score at this venue to consolidate his lead on day two.
Long wait
A winner of three professional titles, Sharma, 35, is looking to end a five-year-long victory-drought.
He picked up five shots on the back nine which included two 18-foot conversions and a narrow miss for a hole-in-one on 17 where his tee shot landed inches from the cup.
It was the third time in the tournament that Sharma missed a hole-in-one by a whisker.
He made further gains on the front-nine with two birdies and an eagle, landing his iron shots within five feet on all three occasions.
Sharma missed out on an albatross on the eighth leaving himself a near tap-in for eagle.
Dream golf
“I’ve been playing so well that it feels like a dream, hitting it great,’ Sharma said later.
“Before I started my round today, I looked up defending champion Shaurya Bhattacharya’s score and stats from last year. Shaurya totalled 27 under for the week and dropped just one bogey in the tournament.
“That helped me set my goal for the week. I’ll look to better Shaurya’s total and make it a bogey-free week.
“It’s all a result of the daily practice that I put in during the new-year break. My course management has also been top-notch this week.
“I switched my clubs recently and that has helped raise my game. The focus from here on will be on making most fairways and greens.”
Also read: Flying start to DP World PGTI season for Sharma at New Raipur
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