Bhoop Singh stays on top with a brilliant 65

 Bhoop Singh 

Lucknow, October 16, 2013: Lucknow’s Bhoop Singh returned a brilliant seven-under-65 to continue in the lead in round two of the Ansal API Feeder Tour Championship presented by The Palms Golf Club – Sushant Golf City. Singh’s total now reads 16-under-128. Harendra Gupta of Chandigarh set a new course record thanks to a blistering 10-under-62 to end the day in second position, two strokes behind the leader.

Bhoop Singh (63-65), the overnight leader, maintained his two-shot lead with a bogey-free 65 on Wednesday. The 42-year-old displayed some great iron-play to land his tee shots within seven feet to set up birdie putts on the third, fifth and 14th, all par-3s. Singh also landed his chips within range for easy tap-in birdies on the sixth, 10th and 15th. He converted an eight-footer for birdie on the ninth.

“I hit it extremely close today just like round one. My iron-play was outstanding and I didn’t miss any putts. I hit some excellent tee shots on the par-3s and chipped well from the edge of the greens on the par-5s. I’ll look to play in the same manner going into the final round,” said Bhoop Singh, who is yet to win a professional event.

Harendra Gupta (68-62) fired an awesome 10-under-62 to break the course record of 63 set by Bhoop Singh in round one on Tuesday. Gupta thus climbed from overnight tied eighth to second place with a total of 14-under-130. His round featured an eagle and eight birdies. Harendra made a 20-feet eagle putt on the par-5 15th. He also found the green on three other par-5s in two shots. Gupta landed it within four feet for birdies on the third and ninth and sank an 18-feet birdie putt on the 11th.  

Harendra, a multiple winner on the PGTI, said, “I capitalized well on the par-5s today where I had an eagle and four birdies. It was a good putting day for me even though I was playing with Vijay Kumar’s putter after having forgotten mine at home. This is the first time ever that I’m playing an event in Lucknow and I look forward to ending the week on a high.”

Sandeep Syal (67-66) of Chennai occupies tied third place at 11-under-133. His bogey-free 66 in round two featured five birdies on the trot from the 12th through the 16th.

Manoj Kumar (65-68) of Lucknow joined Syal in tied third. Manoj’s round of 68 included an eagle on the 15th, five birdies, a bogey and a double-bogey.

Lucknow’s Sheeraz Kalra is placed fifth at 10-under-134.

Arjun Singh Chaudhri of Noida and Delhi’s Honey Baisoya, currently placed first and second on the PGTI Feeder Tour Order of Merit, are in tied 11th place at six-under-138.

The cut was declared at even-par-144. Thirty-six professionals made the cut.