Jaipur, Sep 25 (IANS) Bengalurus Syed Saqib Ahmed fired a blistering nine-under-61 in round two of the TATA Steel PGTIs Jaipur Open to storm into a three-shot lead at 15-under-125 at the Rambagh Golf Club here on Wednesday.
Saqib, a former winner on the PGTI, thus equalled Vikrant Chopra's record for the lowest score after two rounds at a PGTI event. Noida-based Vikrant had also achieved the feat at the Rambagh Golf Club during the inaugural Jaipur Open in 2017.
Round one leader Abhinav Lohan of the DLF Golf & Country Club, Gurugram, who had previously shot a 61 on Tuesday, came up with a 67 on day two to drop to second place at 12-under-128.
The halfway cut went at two-under-138 on a day that saw a light drizzle accompanied with wind in the afternoon session. Fifty three professionals made the cut.
Syed Saqib Ahmed (64-61), who was tied seventh and three off the lead after round one, began the day making rapid strides up the leaderboard thanks to his fabulous ball-striking on the back-nine that saw him tap-in for four of his six birdies before the turn.
Saqib, a winner on the PGTI in 2018, then had a contrasting front-nine where he rolled in three birdie putts from a range of 10 to 15 feet and almost had a chip-in for eagle on the eighth. Saqib's 11 birdies and two bogeys on Wednesday raised his hopes of a second title.
Abhinav Lohan kept his hopes of a maiden title alive with a steady 67 that consisted of five birdies and two bogeys. Lohan was one-over through 12 holes before he turned it around with three long birdie conversions on the 13th, 15th and 16th. He closed the day with a birdie on the last to stay in the hunt.
Chandigarh's Yuvraj Singh Sandhu, the Feeder Tour Order of Merit leader, produced a sizzling 62 to be joint third along with Faridabad's Karan Pratap Singh (65) and Bengaluru's M Dharma (67) at 11-under-129. Yuvraj ended the day with a flourish as he birdied the last four holes.
Defending champion Aman Raj of Patna was placed tied 19th at six-under-134 while PGTI Order of Merit leader Rashid Khan of Delhi occupied tied 40th place at three-under-137.
Indian star Jyoti Randhawa withdrew from the tournament due to a neck injury.
All the Jaipur-based golfers in the field failed to make the cut.
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