Harendra dominates Day 2, climbs to top

Chandigarh, July 24 

Chandigarh’s Harendra Gupta scored a blistering 8-under 64 to take a four-shot lead on the second day of the TATA Steel PGTI Feeder Tour event at the Aravalli Golf Course in Faridabad today.

A nine-time winner, Gupta’s incredible round featured two eagle-twos, six birdies and a double-bogey. 

There was a three-way tie for second place at 6-under 138 between Chandigarh-based rookies Amrit Lal (72) and Shabeg Singh Kooner (69) and Sri Ganganagar’s Sandeep Singh (69). 

The cut was declared at 6-over 150, and 38 golfers made it to the third and final round. 

Gupta (70-64), who was overnight tied ninth, leapfrogged the rest of the field thanks to his outstanding wedge play. He was 1-over through four holes after a double-bogey on the 4th where he hit a poor bunker shot and followed that up with a missed putt from two feet. 

Gupta, however, made a tremendous recovery that began with birdies on the 8th and the 9th. He landed his approach within inches of the flag on the 9th. A couple of quality chip-putts earned him two more birdies on the 11th and 12th. 

The seasoned golfer finally enjoyed a fantastic finish picking up five shots on the last three holes. On the 16th he holed his second shot from 65 yards and on the 17th he again holed his second shot, this time from the bunker, from 30 yards, to pick up consecutive eagle-twos.

Gupta capped the round with another terrific wedge shot from 120 yards on the 18th that resulted in a four-feet birdie conversion. 

“My wedge play today was probably the best it has ever been. It was unbelievable to make two eagle-twos in succession and then back it up with another birdie right at the end. It was a remarkable recovery considering I was 1-over through the first four holes,” said Gupta. — TNS