Sanjeev Kumar of Lucknow, playing at his home course, carded an even-par 70 to be placed second at two-under 138.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Lucknow Golf Club is a par-70 nine-hole course where the nine holes are played twice to comprise a round. On a number of holes, there are different tees used and there are different hole locations for the front-nine and back-nine.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The cut fell at 10-over 150. Thirty-seven professionals made the cut.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Umed Kumar (67-68), the overnight leader by one shot, extended his lead on Wednesday despite a slow start. The 24-year-old Umed, a winner on the PGTI NEXGEN this season, dropped a double-bogey after a couple of inaccurate shots on the par-5 third hole.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Thereafter, Umed made a brave comeback with some brilliant putting as he sank a couple of eight-footers and a 10-footer to pick up three birdies between the sixth and 11th holes. A great drive on the 16th secured Umed another birdie. He finally ended the day with a terrific par save on the 18th where he recovered well after finding the trees with his tee shot.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Umed, currently placed eighth in the PGTI NEXGEN Order of Merit, said, \u201cMy putting was the highlight of my round today. It helped me pull back things after I had an early setback with that double-bogey. I just changed my putter ahead of this event and that move seems to be working wonders for me as I have putted well in both rounds so far.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Thereafter, Umed made a brave comeback with some brilliant putting as he sank a couple of eight-footers and a 10-footer to pick up three birdies between the sixth and 11th holes. A great drive on the 16th secured Umed another birdie. He finally ended the day with a terrific par save on the 18th where he recovered well after finding the trees with his tee shot.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Local lad Sanjeev Kumar (68-70) continued in second position for the second straight day produced after he posted a 70 that featured three birdies and three bogeys. Teenager Abhimanyu Dhara of Panchkula closed the day in third place at a total of even-par 140.<\/p>\r\n\r\n