JOIN USIn-form Kartik Sharma upped the ante to seize the lead at the halfway stage of the IGU Karnataka Junior Boys Golf Championship here on Wednesday.
The West Bengal teenager, winner of two titles this season, fired four-under 68 to total 138 and take a four-shot lead (Category A&B) at the Eagleton Golf Resort.
Delhi’s Harshjeet Singh Sethie, who triumphed last week at the Tamil Nadu Junior Boys Golf Championship, erred with a 73 but stayed in second place. Adilbir Singh also carded 73 but climbed to third spot at 144.
Kartik kick-started his round in perfect fashion, picking a shot right on the first hole. He birdied the fourth before enduring a roller-coaster ride. He bogeyed the fifth, birdied the seventh, dropped a shot again on the eighth before picking up a shot on the 10th. Thereafter he steadied his game, parred six straight holes and birdied the 17th to sign off on a high.
Leading scores (after 36 holes): Category A&B: 138: Kartik Sharma (70, 68); 142: Harshjeet Singh Sethie (69, 73); 144: Adilbir Singh (71, 73); 148: Saarthak Chhibber (77, 71).
Category B: 149: Rahul Ajay (76, 73); 151: Yashvardhan Singh (77, 74); 153: Pratyush Sharma (78, 75), Eshaan Sethi (77, 76).
Category C (after 18 holes): 71: Milind Soni; 73: SudaayChaloo; 74: Krishnav Chopra.