17 October 2018: A topsy-turvy second round left the qualifying school leaderboard reset to the shifting rhythms of the two courses at the Plantation Golf & Country Club. Youngin Chin, all of 18, but bursting with promise shot a disciplined 68 to move one stroke clear from overnight leader Sarah Hoffman and Sandy Choi. Sharmila Nicollet gave expression to her determination, firing a second straight 70 to move ten spots up the order to T5.
Both Neha Tripathi and Nikita Arjun busted themselves trying to repair their prospects. The two suffered damaging first round cards, making 81 & 80 respectively. On Tuesday, they made some amends with scores of 74 and 75 to their names.
The 27-year-old from Bengaluru found the sweet spot again, this time playing the Panther course. Sharmila got off to a rocky start, as bogeys at the first and sixth holes threatened to dim her fortunes. But she bounced back in style, making consecutive birdies at the 7th & 8th holes to return to even par for the day.
After making the turn in an even 36 strokes, Sharmila added birdies at the 12th and 17th holes to sign on another 70. She is four under 140, just three strokes behind the leader.
Playing the Bobcat course, Neha conceded two bogeys in the first three holes. She recovered well though, making birdies at the fourth and tenth holes. She was even for the day as she reached the 14th tee box.
Neha’s third bogey of the day was quickly offset by a birdie at the 15th hole. But the 26-year-old conceded bogeys on the last two holes to end the day at 11-over 155.
Nikita was playing the Panther course. She made two bogeys on the front nine and three more on the return stretch in her 75. Nikita helped her own cause with birdies at the 5th and 16th holes, but it was only enough to reach the halfway stage at 11-over.
With only the top 25 and ties making it to the final stage of qualifying, their chances have turned bleak unless they find a miraculously superior round of golf over the weekend.
