Shaurya Singh is day's best, Chakola maintains lead

Mumbai, Jan 17 (UNI) Delhi's Shaurya Singh came up with the day's best performance of one-under 69, which catapulted him into the second spot on the overall points leaderboard after the second day's play in the Royal Challenge Western India Golf Championships, at the Bombay Presidency Golf Club course, here today.

However, it was not enough to upstage overnight leader Joseph Chakola, who had a relatively poor outing, returning in 3 over 73,but it helped him maintain a slender one point lead at the top of the points tally with a total of 141. Shaurya is in second place with 142, followed by Anirban Lahiri and Amanjyot Singh tied on 143 and Vikram Rana occupying the overall fifth spot with 144.

With the big names failing to roar, it was the turn of Vikram Rana and Navtez Singh to corner a share of the limelight coming in tied on 70 behind Shaurya. Out of the total field of 90 golfers, 45 made the cut for the last two rounds.

Shaurya had four birdies in his round of 18, but three bogies prevented him from returning a better score. Vikram Rana had two birdies and two bogies in his round, while Navtez had an eagle and a birdie, but four bogies meant he finished on par 70.

Joseph Chakola also fired home four birdies, but five bogies and a double bogey saw him return a score of three over 73 and he will have to maintain some sort of consistency if he hopes to keep ahead of the likes of Shaurya Singh.

''I was driving and putting the ball much better today. I am still not hitting my irons good enough to my expectations. I was not worried about the competition though and playing my normal game,'' said Shaurya Singh.

Following are the top five positions: Joseph Chakola 140 (67, 73); Shaurya Singh 141 (72, 69); Anirban Lahiri 143 (69, 74); Amanjyot Singh 143 (71, 72); Vikram Rana 144 (70, 74).

UNI