Hyderabad: Local favourite Vishesh Sharma and Noida’s Amardeep Malik moved into a share of the halfway lead at 14-under 126 after the second round of the INR 1 crore Telangana Golconda Masters at Hyderabad Golf Association. Nineteen-year-old Vishesh (60-66), who matched the course record with an opening 10-under 60, followed it with a four-under 66 containing six birdies and two bogeys.
The two nines presented a sharp contrast for the Hyderabad golfer. Starting from the 10th, Vishesh made the most of the course’s scoring stretch before encountering a more difficult run on the front nine. Malik (61-65), who began the day alone in third and one stroke behind overnight co-leaders Vishesh and Dhruv Sheoran, made six birdies against a solitary bogey on the par-five 17th for a five-under 65. The 41-year-old, a two-time winner on the DP World PGTI, reached the top despite feeling that he had not struck the ball as consistently as he did during his opening 61.
Sheoran (60-67) slipped one spot to third at 13-under 127. The Gurugram golfer mixed six birdies with a bogey on the par-five eighth and a double bogey on the par-four 18th, his final hole of the day, in a three-under 67.
Delhi’s Honey Baisoya (64-64) produced a second successive six-under 64, making seven birdies and one bogey to climb from tied fifth to fourth at 12-under 128. Bangladesh’s Md Akbar Hossain (67-66) and Chandigarh’s Angad Cheema (66-67), a four-time winner on the DP World PGTI, shared fifth place at seven-under 133.
Vishesh was satisfied with his score after returning early in the morning following a late finish to his opening round.
“I’m pleased with the round, although the two nines were quite contrasting,” he said. “I started well on the back nine and put together a run of birdies, but the front nine was more of a mixed bag. A few things could have gone better, but it was important to adapt quickly and settle into the round.”
Morning rain softened the fairways, while stronger winds and more demanding flag positions forced players to alter their approach.
“The course played very differently compared with yesterday,” Vishesh said. “The fairways were much softer, the wind was considerably stronger, and the flags were tucked into more difficult areas. I had to adjust my strategy, aim for the correct sections of the greens and avoid chasing every flag.”
“Playing at my home course gives me a slight advantage because I know the better places to miss,” Vishesh said. “Today, however, I landed it in the wrong areas a few times and had to work hard on some up-and-downs.”