Kartik Sharma shoots sublime 60 to grab two-shot lead at halfway point of Pune Open Championship

The calm and composed Kartik Sharma fired a breath-taking 9-under 60 to grab the lead at the halfway stage of Pune opens Golf Championship.

The young lad from Gurugram impressed everyone with his exceptional technique and smashed ten birdies against a single bogey to claim a two-stroke lead at the Rs. 40 lakh prize money event.

Chandigarh’s Abhijit Singh Chadha (63-65), the first-round leader, once again fired a solid round to be placed second at a total of 11-under 128 on a day that witnessed overcast conditions but no rain.

The heavy overnight rain resulted in waterlogging in some parts of the course. As a result, hole No. 5 was reduced from a Par-4 to a Par-3. Therefore, the par for the course in round two was 69 instead of the regular 70.

Earlier in the day, the thirty players who had not completed their first-round on Wednesday came out and finished their round. Subsequently, round two got underway. There was a one-hour delay in the commencement of play in the morning due to wet conditions. On Thursday, the play commenced at 8 am local time.

Sharma, who shot started with 66 and was three shots off after the first round, turned the table towards his side with a sublime 60 to claim lead going into weekend action Poona Golf Course. While, Abhijit Singh Chadha carded an error-free 65 to remain in contention.

Pack of four golfers, including seasoned Om Prakash Chouhan, were at tied-3rd place at six-under 133.

The halfway cut was declared at four-over 143. Fifty-nine professionals and all the three amateurs in the field made the cut