Ajeetesh opens up three-stroke lead at DLF Masters

Gurgaon: Ajeetesh Sandhu carded a sizzling six-under-66 to take a three-stroke lead over Gaurav Pratap after the second round of the DLF Masters at the DLF Golf & Country Club, here on Friday.

After two rounds, Ajeetesh aggregate is eight-under-136, followed by Gaurav Pratap, whose total is five-under-139. The cut was declared at five-over-149. Fifty-three professionals made the cut.

Ajeetesh (70-66) got off to a cracking start with a birdie on the first where he converted an eight-footer. He then landed his tee shot within six inches for birdie on the third. The 24-year-old collected another birdie on the fourth thanks to a brilliant second shot.

Ajeetesh missed an eagle opportunity from five feet on the sixth. However, he managed to bag a birdie on the sixth. The Chandigarh-based professional sank birdie putts from eight to 10 feet on the eighth and 14th to end up with a bogey-free 66.

"Even though I shot a 66, I feel I could've done better since I missed quite a few birdie chances. My hitting was accurate, especially with the wedges and I putted well from a range of eight to 10 feet. My ball-striking has been good this season and Ive been very consistent through the year. Ill look to convert more putts in the next two rounds," said Ajeetesh, who is yet to win his first professional title.

Noida's Gaurav (71-68) made six birdies against two bogeys in his round of four-under-68 on Friday that placed him overall second. Harmeet Kahlon (74-66) of Chandigarh made a good comeback in round two after having shot a 74 on the opening day. His 66 was the joint best score of the day along with Ajeeteshs score. Kahlons round featured an eagle on the 18th, five birdies and a bogey.

He is now in tied third along with defending champion Himmat Singh Rai (69-71) of the DLF Golf & Country Club at four-under-140. Sri Lankan Anura Rohana is a further stroke back in fifth place while pre-tournament favourite Jyoti Randhawa, Patnas Md Islam, round one leader Toran Bikram Shahi of Nepal, Bangladeshs Md Zamal Hossain Mollah and Australian Kunal Bhasin are in joint sixth place with identical totals of two-under-142.