Vishesh Hangs on to Joint Lead at Golconda Masters Golf

Hyderabad: Teenage local golfer Vishesh Sharma and Noida’s Amardeep Malik shared the halfway lead at 14-under 126 after the second round of the PGTI Telangana Golconda Masters here on Wednesday.

The 19-year-old Vishesh (60-66), who matched the course record with a stunning 10-under 60 in the opening round, followed it with a four-under 66 featuring six birdies and two bogeys.

The Hyderabad golfer produced contrasting displays on the two nines. Starting from the 10th, Vishesh made a strong early push before running into a tougher stretch on the front nine.

Malik (61-65), who began the day alone in third and one stroke behind overnight co-leaders Vishesh and Dhruv Sheoran, made six birdies against a solitary bogey on the par-five 17th for a five-under 65.

The 41-year-old, a two-time winner on the DP World PGTI, reached the top despite feeling that he had not struck the ball as consistently as he did during his opening 61.

Sheoran (60-67) slipped one spot to third at 13-under 127. The Gurugram golfer mixed six birdies with a bogey on the par-five eighth and a double bogey on the par-four 18th, his final hole of the day, in a three-under 67.

Delhi’s Honey Baisoya (64-64) produced a second successive six-under 64, making seven birdies and one bogey to climb from tied fifth to fourth at 12-under 128.

Bangladesh’s Md Akbar Hossain (67-66) and Chandigarh’s Angad Cheema (66-67), a four-time winner on the DP World PGTI, shared fifth place at seven-under 133. Vishesh was satisfied with his score.

“I’m pleased with the round, although the two nines were quite contrasting. I started well on the back nine and put together a run of birdies, but the front nine was more of a mixed bag. A few things could have gone better, but it was important to adapt quickly and settle into the round,” he said .

The cut fell at one-over 141, with 59 players from the field of 132 advancing to the final two rounds.