By IANS
Chandigarh : Experienced Mukesh Kumar shot a three under 69 to open up a two-stroke lead after round two of the Centurion Bank Punjab Open golf here Friday.
Mukesh took his total to eight under 136. Gaganjeet Bhullar and Vijay Kumar are tied second as they trail Mukesh by two strokes.
C. Muniyappa is a further stroke behind in fourth. Round one joint leader Ashbeer Saini slipped to fifth as the cut was made at six over. Fifty eight professionals and four amateurs made the cut.
Mukesh began with a bogey on the first but soon made up with consecutive birdies on the second and third. He then dropped a shot with a bogey on the sixth. Mukesh sank a birdie on the eighth to make the turn at one under. The professional from Mhow played a solid back nine as he birdied the 14th and 15th besides making seven pars.
“My hitting was really good today and I could have shot an even lower score had I not missed some close putts on the first and sixth holes. The course did not play tough despite the windy conditions today.”
“I have won three titles at the Chandigarh Golf Club before so I have a lot of confidence going into the weekend.”
Gaganjeet Bhullar (69, 69) was one under at the turn after making birdies on the first, seventh and ninth and bogeys on the second and eighth. Bhullar found birdies on the 12th and 17th to end with 69 in the second round.
“I had a very steady round today despite a few ordinary tee shots,” said Bhullar. I have played two good rounds and if I continue to play this way I am definitely in with a chance.”
Vijay Kumar (69, 69) joined Bhullar in tied second position with a bogey-free 69. Vijay sank birdies on the first, fifth and 17th.
Chandigarh pros Harmeet Kahlon (71, 72) and Harendra Gupta (71, 72) are tied eighth at one under 143.
Mohammed Siddikur Rehman’s 68 was the best round of the day. The Bangladesh golfer had fired 78 in the first round. He is now tied 21st with a total of two over 146.