Sandhu maintains his lead after day two of the Servo Masters in Digboi

Ranking leader Yuvraj Sandhu had to overcome a mid-round bump to maintain his two-shot lead after 36 holes of the IndianOil Servo Masters in Digboi, Assam, on Wednesday. Image courtesy of PGTI.

By Rahul Banerji

Yuvraj Sandhu maintained his two-shot lead with a second-round card of 3-under-par 69 at the IndianOil Servo Masters at the Digboi Golf Links in Assam on Wednesday.

Ranking leader Sandhu (65-69), a two-time winner in Digboi, is at 10 under 134 at the halfway point of the Rs 1 crore event, the PGTI said.

Saptak Talwar (68-68) fired a second consecutive 68 for a total of 8 under 136 and jumped to second place as the cut dropped to 4 over 148 with 59 professionals going through.

Digboi’s Deven Bhumij was the only local professional to make it to the final two rounds in a tie for 42nd^i.e place at 3 above 147.

Sandhu started the day well with two 3-yard conversions and a great drive to make three shots on the first five holes.

The 28-year-old from Chandigarh, a four-time winner this year, then conceded bogeys on holes seven and eight after finding the trees and suffering a bad bounce respectively.

Sandhu regained control with birdies at 11 and 12 with some beautiful ball striking. He then had more chances on four more holes, where he missed the conversions.

Missed opportunities

“I had a better start than day one, so I was looking forward to a deeper round today, but the putts weren’t falling on the back nine,” Sandhu said later.

“Importantly, my ball striking helped me regain some momentum in the second half of the day. I’m now hoping for a better show with the putter in the final two rounds.”

“This course is very up and down, so running here puts a lot of strain on the legs. After my lap today I sat down to give my legs some much-needed rest.

“Complete recovery of the body is very important in such situations. That is what I need to be at my best in the last two rounds.”

Talwar, playing in Digboi for the first time, mixed five birdies and a bogey that day to move up the leaderboard.

Talwar, a PGTI winner earlier this year, sank a 15-footer and also had a tap for birdies on Wednesday.

Former Digboi champion Veer Ahlawat (71) finished the second round tied for third at 6 under 138 alongside Viraj Madappa (68), Yuvraj Singh (71) and Shivendra Singh Sisdoia (71).

Also read: Sandhu takes early lead at IndianOil Servo Masters in Digboi

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