Khon Kaen (Thailand): Kolkata pro Rahil
Gangjee brought home a sensational, course-record equalling
eight-under 64 to join compatriots Anirban Lahiri and Harmeet
Kahlon at the second place after the halfway stage of the
King's Cup golf tournament here today.
As many as six players trail Chan Yih-shin (137) from
just one stroke behind and half of them are Indians.
Gangjee, whose lone Asian Tour title came at the
Volkswagen Masters-China in 2004, is now fancying a second
triumph as is Kahlon, winner of the 2002 Hero Honda Masters.
Among other Indians in the fray, Indian Open winner C
Muniyappa and veteran Gaurav Ghei were tied 11th at four-under
140, three shots ahead of Digvijay Singh who lay tied 32nd.
Firoz Ali and Manav Jaini share the 52nd place at 146.
Those who missed the cut included Himmat Rai (148), Baaz
Mann (149) and Vikrant Chopra (156) after the cut line was set
at 147.
Gangjee chipped in for an eagle on the 18th, his ninth
hole of the day to add to his six birdies and a lone bogey as
he moved into contention.
"In the beginning it was stressful but later in the
round, it became fun. After yesterday's first round, I was
outside the cut line and I was so stressed out and hit it all
over the place. Today was something else, everything clicked,"
an elated Gangjee later said.
"Now, I'm in a different kind of mode. I think I should
be safe. It's stressed me out enough. Now that I’m in a good
position, I'll try to finish it off," said Gangjee, who is
ranked 63rd on the Order of Merit and needs to finish in the
top-65 on Sunday.
Kahlon, on his part, eagled his last hole for a
five-under 67 to take the clubhouse lead.
Kahlon showed glimpses of his old form and started his
second round brilliantly, reeling in three consecutive birdies
from the first hole.
And he made sure he finished off his day in style,
rifling a five iron approach into the par five 18th hole to
set up a 15-foot eagle chance which he converted.
"I had a very good round as my putts were falling and I
was able to read the greens very well. I have been playing
well on the Indian circuit so I'm not surprised to be doing
good here," said Kahlon.
"I have been putting in more quality training. Every time
I practice, I treat it like a real tournament and my ball
striking has improved a lot because of that," said the former
Hero Honda Masters winner.
PTI
First Published: Friday, December 04, 2009, 18:13