![\"Chikkarangappa](\"images\/golf\/Chikkarangappa-26.jpg\")
Ahmedabad: Bangalore’s Chikkarangappa S set a new course record with his eight-under-64 in round two to build a comfortable five-shot lead at 11-under-133 at the halfway stage of the PGTI Players Championship presented by Kensville Golf & Country Club. Chandigarh-based rookie Feroz Singh Garewal was placed second at six-under-138 after his second round of 67.<\/p>\n
The cut was declared at four-over-148. Fifty-three professionals made the cut.<\/p>\n
Chikkarangappa (69-64), who was overnight tied second, took control on day two with a super 64 as he broke the previous course record of 65 set by Shiv Kapur en route his victory at the Gujarat Kensville Challenge 2013.<\/p>\n
Chikka made early gains on Wednesday with birdie conversions from eight feet on the 11th and 13th followed by a two-on and two-putt birdie on the 14th. Chikka, a winner of five titles, made his only error of the day when he three-putted for bogey on the 15th. The 21-year-old, however, more than made up for it, by landing it within five feet on the 16th, 18th and first, to pick up three strokes.<\/p>\n
Chikkarangappa sank a mammoth 60-footer for birdie on the third before chipping-in to gain another shot on the seventh. The professional from the Eagleton Golf Resort, Bangalore, finally signed off with a 25-feet birdie conversion from just off the green on the ninth.<\/p>\n
“It was a lot cooler this morning with the wind being up. I felt the favourable weather conditions for most part of the round helped me play well and land it close with my irons. My short-game was quite sharp on the last six holes where I sank two long putts and also had a chip-in,” said Chikka, who is a rookie on the Asian Tour this season.<\/p>\n
He added, “I recently changed my putter after almost seven years. That change seems to be working for me. I have some good memories of this course as I made my professional debut here during the 2013 Gujarat Kensville Challenge. I did well to make the cut on that occasion after making two long birdie putts towards the end of round two.<\/p>\n
“It’s great to break the course record. I have a good lead at the moment but it’s about giving my hundred per cent and sticking to a game-plan from here on.”<\/p>\n
Feroz Singh Garewal (71-67), who was overnight tied ninth, climbed up seven places after posting a 67 which included an eagle on the 14th, four birdies and a bogey.<\/p>\n
Sanjay Kumar of Lucknow and Gurgaon-based Shubhankar Sharma shot identical scores of 68 on day two to be joint third at five-under-139.<\/p>\n
Digvijay Singh of Gurgaon fired a 67 to share fifth place along with Kolkata’s Feroz Ali Mollah and Panchkula’s Angad Cheema at four-under-140.<\/p>\n
Noida’s Amardip Sinh Malik, the round one leader, slipped to tied eighth after a round of 74 that took his total to three-under-141. Noida’s Rahul Bajaj, Delhi golfer Himmat Singh Rai and Udayan Mane of Bangalore shared eighth place with Malik.<\/p>\n
Kolkata’s Rahil Gangjee was in joint 12th at two-under-142 while Delhi’s Rashid Khan was tied 27th at two-over-146.<\/p>\n
Kapurthala’s Gaganjeet Bhullar (76-73) missed the cut by one shot as he totaled five-over-149.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ahmedabad: Bangalore’s Chikkarangappa S set a new course record with his eight-under-64 in round two to build a comfortable five-shot lead at 11-under-133 at the halfway stage of the PGTI Players Championship presented by Kensville Golf & Country Club. Chandigarh-based rookie Feroz Singh Garewal was placed second at six-under-138 after his second round of 67.<\/p>\n
The cut was declared at four-over-148. Fifty-three professionals made the cut.<\/p>\n
Chikkarangappa (69-64), who was overnight tied second, took control on day two with a super 64 as he broke the previous course record of 65 set by Shiv Kapur en route his victory at the Gujarat Kensville Challenge 2013.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21596","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-golf-golf"],"yoast_head":"\n