Vishesh Sharma, Amardeep Malik share lead at Telangana Golconda Masters

Local favourite Vishesh Sharma and Noida’s Amardeep Malik shared the halfway lead at 14-under 126 after the second round of the Telangana Golconda Masters. The day also saw three holes-in-one, a first in DP World PGTI history

Hyderabad: Local favourite Vishesh Sharma and Noida’s Amardeep Malik moved into a share of the halfway lead at 14-under 126 after the second round of the Rs 1 crore Telangana Golconda Masters at the Hyderabad Golf Association here on Wednesday.

The 19-year-old Vishesh (60-66), who matched the course record with an opening 10-under 60, followed it up with a four-under 66 featuring six birdies and two bogeys.

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The two nines presented a sharp contrast for the Hyderabad golfer. Starting from the 10th, Vishesh made the most of the course’s scoring stretch before encountering a tougher run on the front nine.

Malik (61-65), who began the day alone in third place and one stroke behind overnight co-leaders Vishesh and Dhruv Sheoran, made six birdies against a solitary bogey on the par-five 17th for a five-under 65.

The 41-year-old, a two-time winner on the DP World PGTI, moved into the lead despite feeling that he had not struck the ball as consistently as he did during his opening-round 61.

Sheoran (60-67) slipped to third place at 13-under 127. The Gurugram golfer mixed six birdies with a bogey on the par-five eighth and a double bogey on the par-four 18th, his final hole of the day, for a three-under 67.

Delhi’s Honey Baisoya (64-64) produced his second successive six-under 64, making seven birdies and one bogey to climb from tied fifth to fourth place at 12-under 128.

Bangladesh’s Md Akbar Hossain (67-66) and Chandigarh’s Angad Cheema (66-67), a four-time winner on the DP World PGTI, shared fifth place at seven-under 133.

Vishesh was satisfied with his score after returning early in the morning following a late finish to his opening round.

“I’m pleased with the round, although the two nines were quite contrasting,” he said. “I started well on the back nine and put together a run of birdies, but the front nine was more of a mixed bag. A few things could have gone better, but it was important to adapt quickly and settle into the round.”

Malik was even more satisfied with his second-round 65 than his opening-round 61 because of the number of difficult situations he successfully negotiated.

Panchkula’s 15-year-old Arjunveer Shishir (72-63) became the youngest player to make the cut on the DP World PGTI. His seven-under 63 lifted him into a share of 12th place at five-under 135.

Defending champion Jamal Hossain (72-66) of Bangladesh climbed from tied 72nd to tied 24th at two-under 138. Current DP World PGTI Rankings leader Saptak Talwar (70-67) moved from tied 50th to tied 17th at three-under 137.

The round also produced a first in DP World PGTI history, with three holes-in-one recorded on the same day. Abhinav Lohan and Anshul Kabthiyal both aced the par-three 11th, while Harman Sachdeva recorded his hole-in-one on the par-three seventh.

The cut fell at one-over 141, with 59 players from a field of 132 advancing to the final two rounds.