Coimbatore, Aug 16 (Representative) Chandigarh golfer Akshay Sharma built a two-shot lead with a flawless seven-under 65 in round two at Coimbatore Open being played here on Thursday. Akshay who had carded a 69 in round one, sat on top of the pack at a total of 10-under 134. Gurugram’s Manu Gandas (71-65) occupied second place after he too returned an error-free 65 today.Dubai-based rookie Rayhan Thomas, playing his first event on the PGTI, posted a 67 on day two to be tied for second at a total score of seven-under 137, along with another rookie Shaurya Bhattacharya (71) of Delhi. The 24-year-old Rayhan also had a bogey-free day. The cut was declared at two-over. Sixty-one professionals made the cut for the money rounds. Akshay Sharma, lying overnight tied ninth and three off the lead, kickstarted his round with a birdie chip-in on the second. The two-time winner on the PGTI then set up a tap-in for birdie on the par-3 fourth, where he struck an excellent tee shot.
Thirty-three-year-old Akshay sank another birdie from close range on the sixth and converted a 12-footer for eagle on the ninth to make the turn at an impressive five-under. Akshay’s two birdies on the back-nine came as a result of a 15-feet conversion and a phenomenal chip that stopped one foot from the hole. Aadil Bedi shot the week’s lowest round so far, a nine-under 63, that featured 10 birdies and a bogey, thus gaining 88 spots to end the day in tied 25th place. Aadil, who made a bogey after a lost ball on the 12th, got his round going with a birdie on the 14th, a long par-3. He then drained birdies on the next two holes, missing a hole in one by a whisker on the 16th, where the reward for an ace is a Nissan Magnite car. After the turn, Aadil had a run of four straight birdies from the first to the fourth, thanks to his excellent ball-striking and putting. Reigning champion Harshjeet Singh Sethie of Delhi was placed tied 49th at two-over 146. None of the Coimbatore-based players made the cut.