Colombo, Sri Lanka. Chiragh Kumar of India shot the day’s joint best score of seven-under-64 to share the three-way lead along with Mithun Perera of Sri Lanka and Nepal’s Shivaram Shrestha at the end of round two of the Standard Chartered Open, a PGTI event, being played at the Royal Colombo Golf Club in Colombo. The three golfers have matching total scores of 11-under-131.
The cut was declared at five-over-147. Fifty professionals and one amateur made the cut.
Chiragh Kumar (67-64), who was overnight tied seventh, climbed to the top of the leaderboard after shooting the day’s joint best score of 64. Playing in the same three-ball as defending champion Mithun Perera, Chiragh picked up the pace with four straight birdies from the fifth through the eighth. He kept up the intensity on the back-nine with three more birdies. The Delhi-based professional is one of the tournament favourites as he returns to his happy hunting ground, the Royal Colombo Golf Club, where he won a title last year.
Chiragh said, “The plan was to restrict the errors today. The conditions were tough as the wind was blowing in the opposite direction. I really enjoyed playing on the new greens. I’ll try to repeat this effort in the coming rounds.”
Mithun Perera (63-68), the overnight leader, continued to enjoy his home conditions with a three-under-68 on day two that kept him in the joint lead. Perera followed up his birdie on the seventh with an eagle on the 14th.
Perera said, “Even though it was a bogey-free round, I’m not very satisfied with my effort as I missed a lot of putts. I didn’t pick up enough birdies today. I’m confident of playing better in the next two rounds as this is my home course and I have the advantage of local knowledge.”
Shivaram Shrestha (65-66), a winner on the PGTI last year, posted a five-under-66 in round two that pushed him up from overnight tied second to joint first. Shivaram made a terrific start with four birdies on the back-nine but then had a quieter front-nine as he made two birdies and a bogey.
“It’s been a good start to the tournament for me. The win on the PGTI last year has done wonders to my confidence. I’m playing well at the moment and will look to seize my opportunities over the next two days,” said Shrestha.
The fourth and fifth place is currently occupied by Sri Lankans N Thangaraja and K Prabagaran with total scores of 10-under-132 and nine-under-133 respectively.
India’s Gaurav Pratap Singh also returned the day’s joint best score of 64 to lie tied eighth at five-under-137.