Chiragh fires six-under to open up 3-shot lead

India’s Chiragh Kumar fought back from an indifferent start to score an impressive six-under-par 66 to jump to a three-shot lead in halfway stage of the US$400,000 Panasonic Open India at the Delhi Golf Club on Friday.

Chiragh, who was tied second in the opening round, was two-over in five holes but fired nine birdies in 11 holes to lead on a total of 11-under-par 133. The 31-year-old Indian pipped overnight leader Mithun Perera of Sri Lanka who slipped to second place after finishing on 70 which included a double bogey on the 13th hole.

Bangladesh’s Siddikur Rahman, who battled to a 70, shared third place alongside Thailand’s Pawin Ingkhapradid (68) and Zamal Hossain (67) on a 138 total.

Chiragh, who is still looking for his breakthrough win on the Asian Tour, was off to a terrible start with two bogeys on 11th and 13th before missing a short putt for birdie on the 14th hole. But the local boy picked six straight birdies from 15th hole and added three more on his homeward nine to make amends. He, however, couldn’t finish on a high with his four-foot par putt on the last stopping inches from the hole.

“I told myself not to let the poor start get to me. I missed a short birdie putt on the 14th hole and I kept telling myself to move on. Everything fell into place after that so I’m glad I missed that putt!” said Chiragh.

“I wish I holed a few more birdie putts and finish higher than I did,” added Chiragh, who was part of the Indian team which won the silver medal in the 2006 Doha Asian Games.

The cut was applied at three-over and 71 players made the cut, including 30 Indians. As many as 11 Indians figured in top 20 including Vikrant Chopra, who added a solid 68 to his first round 71 to move to five-under 139 and into tied sixth place with K Prabagaran of Sri Lanka. Shankar Das and S Chikka were in tied-eighth place.

Leading scores (after 36 holes, Indians unless mentioned): 133: Chiragh Kumar (67, 66); 136: Mithun Perera (Sri, 66, 70); 138: Siddikur Rahman (Ban, 68, 70), Pawin Ingkhapradit (Tha, 70, 68), Zamal Hossain (Ban, 71, 67); 139: Vikrant Chopra (Ind, 71, 68), K Prabagaran (Sri, 69, 70), 140: Shankar Das (Ind, 69, 71), Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha, 68, 72), Sattaya Supupramai (Tha, 67, 73), S Chikkarangappa (69, 71).