Vihaan Jain takes three-shot lead at Southern India Junior Golf Championship

Haryana's Vihaan Jain shot an even-par 72 at the Coimbatore Golf Club to open up a three-stroke lead over Prince Bainsla on day two of the IGU Southern India Junior Boys Golf Championship, while Chaitanya Pandey and Drona Singh Dhull extended dominant leads in Categories B and C.

Hyderabad: In-form Vihaan Jain handled the blustery conditions better than most of his rivals on Wednesday, during the second day of the IGU Southern India Junior Boys Golf Championship at the Coimbatore Golf Club.

Coming off his maiden junior victory in Vizag last week, 16-year-old Vihaan shot an even-par 72 to open up a three-shot lead over fellow Haryana golfer Prince Bainsla (74) in Category ‘A’ (15-17 years). Tamil Nadu’s Nilofer Sivamoorthy (74) was a stroke further back in third place.

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Overnight leader Adhiraaj Singh Gill (79) had a poor day in the office, slipping to at tie for fourth with Karnataka’s Vivaan Ubhayakar (76) at nine-over 153.

After a sedate start, Vihaan picked up a shot on the ninth with a nine-foot curler. After the turn, he drained a 35-footer on the 13th for his second birdie. After finding the trees on the right with his drive, the leader managed to reach the green in three, but missed an eight-foot par putt.

He put that blemish behind him and birdied the 16th to go two-under for the day. However, the teenager dropped shots on the 17th and 18th holes (three-putting from 20 feet) to settle for an even-par 72.

In Category ‘B’ (13-14), Chaitanya Pandey (75) of Delhi took a five-shot lead over Telangana’s Saatvic Kumar Singh (78). Order of Merit leader Jaibir Singh Kang (77) was one shot further behind.

In Category ‘C’ (11-12), Drona Singh Dhull (77), winner last week in Vizag, took a runaway eight-shot lead over Shan Alvi (86).

Leading scores (after 36 holes): Category ‘A’ (15-17 years): 147: Vihaan Jain (Har, 75, 72); 150: Prince Bainsla (Har, 76, 74); 151: Nilofer Sivamoorthy (TN, 77, 74); 153: Vivaan Ubhayakar (Kar, 77, 76), Adhiraaj Singh Gill (Pun, 74, 79).

Category ‘B’ (13-14): 154: Chaitanya Pandey (Del, 79, 75); 159: Saatvic Kumar Singh (Tel, 81, 78); 160: Jaibir Singh Kang (Har, 83, 77); 163: Aditya Tewari (Kar, 85, 78); 165: Siddhant Sharma (Har, 82, 83).

Category ‘C’ (11-12): 160: Drona Singh Dhull (Har, 83, 77); 168: Shan Alvi (Del, 82, 86); 169: Vivaan Shailesh Kudale (Mah, 89, 80), Vivaan Singh (Kar, 87, 82); 170: Advith Sunil (Kar, 88, 82).