In a striking display of skill at the TPC Yeangder golf on Friday, former champion Gaganjeet Bhullar delivered an impressive second-round score of five-under 67. This remarkable performance places him just a whisker away from the lead at the event's halfway point.
Having previously clinched victory at this event in 2012, Bhullar, with round scores of 66 and 67, has now accumulated an 11-under total. He's hot on the heels of Travis Smyth, who, after initial scores of 65 and 67, stands at a 12-under, claiming the sole lead.
Jack Thompson from Australia, with scores of 67 and 66, shares the tied second position with Bhullar. The leaderboard remains close-knit with six contenders tied at fifth place, each boasting a 10-under.
Rashid Khan showcased one of his season's best performances, marking a bogey-free 66 which featured three birdies on both halves of the course. Post the rounds of 70 and 66, he stands T-17. Other Indian golfers making their mark include Veer Ahlawat and Karandeep Kochhar both at T-30 with 6-under, while S Chikkarangappa and Khalin Joshi stand at T-41. Viraj Madappa sits at T-49, and Ajeetesh Sandhu, having made the cut, is at T-59. Yuvraj Sandhu remains on the cut line with a score of 69 and par for 15 in the second.
Bhullar's round was nothing short of electrifying. He kick-started with an eagle and signed off with a birdie. His round also comprised five additional birdies and two bogeys.
Regrettably, a few Indian players, including SSP Chawrasia, Honey Baisoya, Kartik Sharma, Jeev Milkha Singh, and Rahil Gangjee, are precariously positioned, likely to miss the cut projected at 3-under.
Bhullar, known as one of the most triumphant Indian players on the Asian Tour, was initially tied-eighth. This was until Thailand's Natipong Srithong dazzled with a splendid bogey-free nine-under-par 63, ascending to the lead. However, Srithong encountered hurdles in the second round.
As the TPC Yeangder golf championship progresses, the air is thick with anticipation, with Bhullar and many others vying for the top spot.
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(With PTI inputs, powered by AI)
