Rahil Gangjee Preserves Two-Shot Lead at Panasonic Open Golf

Rahil Gangjee of India maintained a two-shot lead at the halfway stage of the USD 300,000 Panasonic Open India after shooting a four-under-par 68 on Friday. The home favourite rode on a hot putter and accurate drives to emerge as the only player to return with double digits on 10-under-par 134 in the event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI).

Wade Ormsby of Australia, aiming to become the first player to successfully defend the Panasonic Open India title, rolled in five birdies to stay in the hunt following a 68 at the challenging Delhi Golf Club.

Mithun Perera (67) of Sri Lanka, Terry Pilkadaris (68) of Australia, popular Bangladeshi Siddikur Rahman (67), who produced two eagles on Friday, and Indian amateur Pratap Atwal (68), the nephew of Indian star Arjun Atwal, were tied in third on 137, three back from Gangjee.

"You can't take anything lightly on this golf course no matter how much you are leading by. Anything can happen but you can really go low on this course if you are hitting well, which I am doing at the moment," said the 36-year-old Gangjee.

While many players choose not to use the driver at the tree-lined Delhi course, Gangjee used the big stick to great effect on the course which punishes wayward drives because of thick bushes surrounding the narrow fairways.

"The driver is one of my stronger clubs and that's why I'm going to take it. I'm confident with it and I know where the ball is going to go. I'm going to do it over and over again. I'm the leader so I will definitely feel some pressure," said Gangjee.

Australia's Ormsby signalled his intentions to retain the Panasonic Open India title and will work on his putting to give himself a chance on Sunday.

"I'm hitting the ball a lot of better than last year and that takes a lot of pressure off you when you play on this course. If I can putt better then I will be in pretty good shape. I'm going to work on that and I should be okay for the weekend," said Ormsby.

EurAsia Cup star Siddikur, who is making a return on the Asian Tour after a lengthy back injury, opened with a 12-foot eagle putt before holing a thirty-footer putt from the edge of the eighth green for a second eagle.

"I'm not surprised with my position because my short game is really good. I'm confident with my putter. I'm not confident off the tees but when I'm on the green, I know I can hole my putts," said Siddikur, who won the Indian Open here in 2013.

Top scores after Round 2: 134 - Rahil GANGJEE (IND) 66-68. 136 - Wade ORMSBY (AUS) 68-68. 137 - Mithun PERERA (SRI) 70-67, Terry PILKADARIS (AUS) 69-68, Pratap ATWAL (amateur, IND) 69-68, Siddikur RAHMAN (BAN) 70-67. 138 - Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA) 70-68, Rashid KHAN (IND) 68-70, Shubhankar SHARMA (IND) 73-65. 139 - Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) 69-70, Lionel WEBER (FRA) 73-66. 140 - Shankar DAS (IND) 69-71, Settee PRAKONGVECH (THA) 69-71, Unho PARK (AUS) 69-71. 141 - Chikka S (IND) 72-69, S.S.P CHOWRASIA (IND) 70-71, Om Prakash CHOUHAN (IND) 69-72, CHOO Tze Huang (SIN) 68-73. 142 - Kapil KUMAR (IND) 70-72, Vikrant CHOPRA (IND) 74-68, Blair WILSON (AUS) 70-72, Manav JAINI (IND) 71-71, Mukesh KUMAR (IND) 71-71.