Karandeep Kochhar claims halfway lead at Players Championship

Chandigarh’s Karandeep Kochhar, still searching for his first win since turning professional, continued to impress at the TATA Steel PGTI Players Championship 2020 Presented by Chandigarh Golf Club as he emerged halfway leader after returning a four-under-68 on Tuesday.

Kochhar, playing at his home course, the Chandigarh Golf Club, climbed one spot from his overnight tied second, taking his total to 10-under-134.

Delhi-based Arjun Prasad carded the day’s joint lowest score of 67 to move up 10 spots to joint second at eight-under-136. Mysuru’s Yashas Chandra struck a 68 to also be tied second, he made a gain of four spots. Both Arjun and Yashas played their second rounds at the Panchkula Golf Club.

The halfway cut came down at two-over-146 as 53 professionals made it to the money rounds.

Twenty-one-year-old Karandeep Kochhar (66-68), the runner-up in Panchkula last week, continued his consistency in the Tricity swing with another solid effort where he picked up five birdies in exchange for a lone bogey.

Kochhar said, “I’ve been quite consistent since last week so I’m quite pleased about that. I dropped my first bogey today in three rounds (including the last round from last week’s event) and that gives me a lot of confidence going forward.

Arjun Prasad (69-67), another 21-year-old and a good friend of Karandeep, produced a top-notch 67 featuring six birdies and a bogey.

Prasad, who qualified for and played on the Asian Tour in his rookie season in 2017, said, “I was patient today and gave myself a lot of chances. I did well with the putter, especially on the back-nine. I feel I’ve been in good rhythm since the last round of the previous event. I played three-under on the last eight holes in Panchkula last week. That gave me confidence coming into this week.

Yashas Chandra (68-68) posted a second straight 68 to share second place with Arjun. Yashas’ round included seven birdies, a bogey, and a double-bogey.

Round one leader Aadil Bedi (73) of Chandigarh dropped to a tied eighth position at six-under-138. The seven others in tied eighth included PGTI Order of Merit leader Udayan Mane (69) of Pune as well as local players Yuvraj Singh Sandhu (69) and Amrit Lal (70).

Chandigarh’s Ajeetesh Sandhu, Patna’s Aman Raj, Kolkata’s Viraj Madappa, and Bengaluru’s Khalin Joshi were all bunched in tied 21st at two-under-142.

Bengaluru’s Chikkarangppa was placed tied 35th at even-par-144.
Indian star Jyoti Randhawa withdrew from the event following an injury.