Perera holds on to the lead with 66, Lahiri posts day`s best

Bangalore: Mithun Perera of Sri Lanka held on to his overnight two-shot lead after returning a clinical six-under-66 in round two of the PGTI Eagleburg Open being played at Eagleton The Golf Resort here.

Perera`s total score thus moved to 13-under-131. Bangalore`s Anirban Lahiri shot the day`s best score of seven-under-65 to close the day in second place at 11-under-133. The cut fell at one-over-145. Fifty-one professionals made the cut. Perera (65-66) followed up his first round 65 with a superb 66 in round two to maintain his two-stroke lead. The bogey on the 13th was the only blip on his card. Perera turned it on from the 17th with his first birdie of the round. He went on to pick up another one after a 20-feet conversion on the 18th. He then landed his shots within five feet of the flag for four straight birdies from the fourth to the seventh and another on the ninth. The 28-year-old is now 35-under from his last six rounds. Mithun said, "I didn`t have a great start to the day but I finished well. I?ve played much better on the front-nine this week compared to the back-nine. The wedges come into play more often on the front-nine and I`ve played some good wedge shots over the last two days." Anirban Lahiri (68-65) climbed from overnight tied fourth to second place after a flawless 65 today. The highest-ranked Indian in the world made three birdies on his back-nine and added four more on the front-nine. He sank a 15-footer for birdie on the 14th and left himself a tap-in for birdie after a brilliant second shot on the fifth. Playing at his home course, Lahiri is now looking for his fifth win in five starts on the PGTI. "My hitting was even more consistent than day one. I didn?t make too many putts though. I need to make more 10 to 12 feet putts over the next two days in order to catch up with Mithun who is in tremendous form. It seems like a two-horse race right now. Mithun will be a tough competitor as he has the confidence from last week`s win and also has a great temperament."