Gaurav moves into lead at ONGC Masters

NOIDA - Gaurav Pratap Singh of the Noida Golf Course fired his second successive 70 here Thursday to grab the second round lead at the ONGC Masters 2009.

Gaurav now heads into the third round with a two-stroke advantage at four under 140. Randhir Singh Ghotra, Toran Bikram Shahi and round one leader Arjun Singh Chaudhri are joint second with identical totals of two under 142.

In all, 52 professionals made the cut that was applied at seven over 151.

Gaurav (70, 70) bogeyed the fourth hole but then came back with birdies on the fifth and seventh to be one under at the turn. The 25-year-old dropped his second bogey of the day on the 10th before picking up birdies on the 12th, 14th and 16th. Gaurav finally closed his round with a bogey on the 18th.

Gaurav, affectionately addressed as ‘GP’ by his close friends, came up with an extraordinary approach shot (pitching wedge) from 123 yards on the 12th that landed within a few inches of the hole and helped him pocket an important birdie. He followed this up with a chip-in from the front edge for birdie on the 16th.

I’ve been striking the ball really well over last few months but somehow I have not been able to shoot very low numbers. In today’s round, I hit it well once again and also hit it quite close and therefore was rewarded with a good score. The birdies on the 12th and 16th were highly satisfying.

“However, I was a little disappointed to miss out on a nine feet eagle putt on the 14th, said Gaurav, who is currently placed 35th on the Aircel-PGTI Order of Merit, having posted four top-10s in the current season.

Toran Bikram Shahi of Nepal, Chandigarh’s Randhir Singh Ghotra and round one leader Arjun Singh Chaudhri of Noida are currently in tied second place at two under 142. While Toran shot a second consecutive 71 in round two, Ghotra and Chaudhri produced scores of 72 and 75 respectively. Dayal Singh of Chandigarh is placed fifth at even par 144.

Gaurav Ghei and Arjun Singh are tied 13th at two over 146 and defending champion Shamim Khan is a further stroke behind in tied 21st.

Kuldeep Singh of Chandigarh, who missed the cut, having totaled eight over 152, fired a hole-in-one on the third hole.