India’s Pukhraj Singh Gill could not get his irons going on the front nine but ensured a series of pars to avoid any damage in the second round of the $ 500,000 Bharath Classic 2025 Gujarat, which is joint sanctioned by the Asian Tour and IGPL.
On the back nine Gill found three birdies against one bogey for a 70 that kept him in the Top-7.
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Pukhraj, who was tied second after the first day with a 6-under 66, added a 2-under 70 to get to 8-under at the halfway stage. He was the best Indian pro and tied seventh alongside amateur Ishaan Chawhan (67-69).
Korean Wooyoung Cho carded a second straight 66 to move into the sole lead at 12-under ahead of compatriot Heemin Chang (64-69).
Pukhraj, who is staying in a hotel more than an hour away from the Kensville Golf Resort, started from the first and parred his first 11 holes. Then he had back-to-back birdies on the 12th and the 13th before dropping a shot on the Par-5 15th. He got that shot back on the 17th and closed with a par.
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“My hitting was even better than the first day when I scored 66, but today my irons didn’t work well. I had mid-range putts for birdies from 15-20 feet and could not hole them for birdies. But at 8-under on this course I am in the picture and there are two more days to go,” said the long-hitter, who recently won his first pro title at IGPL Jamshedpur.
For the second day running, amateur Chawhan, the 2022 Western India amateur winner, caught the eye. The 21-year-old who plays on the amateur Tour, added a round of 3-under 69 to his first round 67 to total a healthy 8-under for 36 holes and was
Tied-seventh.
Shaurya Binu, a pro in his third year, followed up his first round 72 with a superb 66 in the second round. Playing his maiden event on the main Asian Tour, Shaurya had nine birdies against three bogeys, “My hitting could have been better but I holed a lot of putts. I am feeling good and looking forward to the next two rounds,” added Binu, who has one pro win in India.
Multiple winner in India, Yuvraj Sandhu who carded even par on Day 1, made up with one the day’s best cards as he scored 6-under 66 with seven birdies against one bogey to jump up to Tied-14th place, alongside former Asian Tour winner Ajeetesh Sandhu (67-71), who dropped two late bogeys before closing with a birdie.
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The cut fell at 2-over and 72 players will play the final two rounds, which will be played with a shotgun start. Among those missing the cut were youngsters Kartik Singh (77-70) and Veer Ganapathy (77-73).
IGPL Order of Merit leader Aman Raj (73-68) ensured weekend action at T0-31, while second placed Gill is tied seventh.
