Patna's Aman Raj shot a solid four-under 68 to race into a three-shot lead at a total of 10-under 134 after round two of the Gujarat Open Golf Championship 2023 being played at the Kalhaar Blues & Greens Golf Club, here.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ahmedabad's Anshul Patel struck a 71 at his home course to be placed second at seven-under 137.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Greater Noida's Arjun Sharma (69) was a further shot back in third place.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Seven players were bunched in tied fourth at four-under 140 including rookies Aryan Roopa Anand (2023 PGTI Q School Winner) and Saptak Talwar.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The cut was declared at four-over 148. Fifty-eight professionals and one amateur made the cut.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Aman Raj (66-68), the overnight joint leader, began with birdies on his first two holes including a tap-in on the 10th. After a bogey on the 17th, Aman made further gains on the front-nine with three more birdies including a chip-in on the first hole.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Aman, a winner on the PGTI, said, "I was off to a good start today on a comparatively more windy day and gave myself a lot of chances. After the bogey, I kept my patience and thus came back well on the back-nine. The chip-in was special and I also hit it quite close on a few occasions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I've been consistent with my hitting so far and I feel that I just have to trust myself a little more and keep doing what I'm doing," added Aman, who won his only title back in 2018.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Local professional Anshul Patel (66-71), the overnight joint leader along with Aman, mixed four birdies with three bogeys to slip one spot on the leaderboard but still keep himself in the hunt.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Khalin Joshi was tied 11th at two-under 142, Varun Parikh was the second local player to make the cut as he was placed tied 33rd at two-over 146 and Udayan Mane was tied 42nd at three-over 147.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Noida-based 15-year-old Aarav D Shah was the only amateur to make the cut. The Australian national was in tied 42nd place at three-over 147.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Khalin Joshi was tied 11th at two-under 142, Varun Parikh was the second local player to make the cut as he was placed tied 33rd at two-over 146 and Udayan Mane was tied 42nd at three-over 147.<\/p>\r\n\r\n