Shubhankar Sharma retains lead

Report by Anand Datla

December 26, 2014: Shubhankar Sharma retained a one shot lead after the second round after making a steady 69 on Friday. The best effort of the day though came from Rashid Khan. The young golfer leapt twelve spots on the leaderboard with a nine-under 63 to move within a shot of Sharma. The local lad was lying at 11-under through 36 holes, just ahead of Khan. But it was the later who lit up the Royal Calcutta Golf Club with a eye catching performance in the second round.

Three of the top four men produced 69 on Friday – S Chikkarangappa and Gaganjeet Bhullar were the other two, besides Sharma to have done so. Chikka was in third at 9-under 135. Bhullar was locked in fourth with Shamim Khan, who made 70 to lie in T4 at 7-under 137.

Arjun Atwal produced a brilliant 66 to jump 16 spots into T6 at 6-under 138. Shankar Das was keeping him company ahead of the weekend after making a two under 70 in the second round.

SSP Chowrasia was in T14 among a group of four men, after making a 69 today. It was a good recovery from the Kolkata golfer after suffering a 73 in the first round.

Overnight leader Sharma made five birdies including three in the final four holes to retain a one shot lead at the end of the second day. Sharma’s round was dented by bogeys at the second and eighteenth but his effort was good enough for a three under to add to his 64 on day one.

Khan was in breathtaking form – an eagle at the 15th hole and seven birdies helped him shoot a 63 and surge into second place. Khan took 32 shots on the front nine and raced to the clubhouse in just 31 to snip nine shots off the course.

Chikka made two birdies on either side of his run on the historic course to keep himself in contention for the season ending event. Shamim Khan rounded out the top five firing a 70 to reach the halfway mark at 7-under 137.

M Dharma was hurt badly by a pair of double bogeys and two other bogeys, but the golfer kept himself in the top 10 with a decent 73 in the second round. He was the last of the men inside the top ten.