Angel Hidalgo, Joost Luiten and Adrian Meronk shared the clubhouse lead at the top of a congested leaderboard after day two of the weather-affected DP World India Championship.
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After nearly five hours were lost to storms on day one, Luiten played the most of the leaders as he tackled 34 holes in six under par in rounds of 68-68 to get to eight under, while Meronk and Hidalgo both faced 32 holes.
Meronk was five under through four at the end of Thursday but added just one more first-round birdie before following up with a 69, while Hidalgo joined Luiten with rounds of 68-68.
Belgian Thomas Detry birdied three of his first six holes in round two to sit alongside the leaders, a shot clear of English pair Todd Clements and Eddie Pepperell.
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Eugenio Chacarra was also at seven under through five holes as he seeks a result which could send him to the top of the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World on Sunday.
All three of the clubhouse leaders are enjoying some late-season momentum as we head towards the DP World Tour Play-Offs.
Pole Meronk recently won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and he held the solo lead on day two after birdies on the 14th, 17th, first and eighth but dropped his only shot of the week so far on the ninth.
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Dutchman Luiten also got to nine under with a hat-trick of gains from the 13th and further birdies on the 18th and second. He then made a double on the eighth but bounced straight back with a birdie from 14 feet on the next.
Hidalgo’s recent runner-up finish at the FedEx Open de France has secured his place in the play-offs and he made birdies on the first, sixth, seventh, eighth and 14th before bouncing back from a double with a closing gain.
Detry had completed his opening round on Thursday and picked up shots on the first, second and fifth before darkness ended play on day two.
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Pepperell, who is 100th on the Rankings and needs a good week to boost his chances of having a full card next season, carded rounds of 71-66 in his marathon day to get to seven under alongside Clements, who played 31 holes posting rounds of 69-68.
Player quotes
Angel Hidalgo: Yeah, pretty good. Especially at this course. It’s pretty tight. I played 31 holes with this weather and this tight course.
Pretty happy with the way I’m playing these two rounds. Looking forward to see the weekend.
Last year (at this course) I played super good from the tee but I couldn’t hole a putt and I played terrible from the fairway.
This year everything is quite okay, so that’s why we are there and it’s the biggest different from a last year.
Well, the summer was long practicing, just to do as well as I can with the swing. I’m putting better. I was practicing a lot the putting. I’m holing few more putts, yeah, it’s good.
Adrian Meronk: Very solid. Very long day. I’m just glad it’s over to be honest. I’m knackered.
But, yeah, it was a lot of solid golf. I’m happy with my position. Obviously a little bit disappointed with the bogey on the last, but it’s still a good round and I’m happy with the day of work.
Just kind of playing to my strengths and playing smart off the tee, placing the ball in good spots. My short game has been pretty strong as well; made also few good par putts as well.
Just overall the game feels quite solid and I feel like mentally I’m in a good place and I think we have a good strategy for this course.
To be honest, my game felt like it’s been coming along for the – last few months. I just couldn’t like finish the tournament well.
Suddenly feels like I’m gaining the momentum, the confidence growing, and it’s a great feeling. Just when you really can trust your golf game, when you hit shots to your targets, it’s just so much fun.
