18 August 2017: An even 72 in the second round left Rahil Gangjee in T12 as the Fiji International sailed into the weekend with Daniel Pearce holding on to a one stroke lead. Shubhankar Sharma did just enough to escape the wrath of the knife, but Chikkarangappa was left looking for a ticket home after a 77 on Friday.
Rahil had a quiet day on the Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course after starting his day with a bogey on the second hole.
Gangjee made 14 consecutive pars before erasing the deficit with a birdie at the 17th hole. Going out in 37 and returning in 35, Rahil made a 72 in the second round.
I didn’t make any putts today. I made only one for par and that was it. That was the main difference for me today but I still stay patient out there. I keep telling myself that it will come to me. I missed a lot of birdie chances out there. I played decently and gave myself a lot of opportunities but didn’t manage to convert anything.
I had a two putt on 17 for birdie and that was it. I putted in from about 35 to 40 feet at the edge of the green. It was not as windy as it was yesterday. The winds were slightly different too, especially in the morning when I started. It was coming from different directions. It got me thinking a little bit.
I will just keep doing what I have been doing. I am hitting the ball solid. I just need to keep the ball in play and continue to give myself birdie chances. I wasn’t thinking much out there. I have been in this position for a lot of times so I just told myself to hang in there.
Shubhankar endured a double bogey five at the second hole and two other bogeys in his trek around the scenic course. But he also made five birdies on the day for a 71 that lifted him into T65. At two over 146, he was just above the cut line.
Chikkarangappa started his day needing a rescue effort, but a quadruple eight at the fourth hole effectively killed his chances of staying over for the weekend.
The 23 year old from Bengaluru also made four bogeys and three birdies in his 77 as he sank to a seven over score of 151.
Gavin Green, two under for the day and six under overall, was staring at a great opportunity to surpass Daniel Pearce and take over the lead.
The Malaysian was at the bend as we went live with this report. Scott Hend was also through the ninth, just one adrift from the clubhouse leader.
Harry Bateman was the standout performer of the day, climbing 59 spots with a solid 66 under windy conditions. He scored 74 in the first round.
Gangjee can look ahead to the weekend with plenty of hope. After surviving a difficult day without any significant damage, he can aim to press forward again in the third round.
