Sharma and Malik Share Lead at Telangana Golconda Masters

Sharma and Malik Move into Shared Lead

Local favorite Vishesh Sharma and Noida's Amardeep Malik have both taken the lead at 14-under 126 after the second round of the Rs 1 crore Telangana Golconda Masters held at the Hyderabad Golf Association.

Nineteen-year-old Vishesh, who set a course record with a stunning 10-under 60 in his first round, followed up with a solid four-under 66, featuring six birdies and two bogeys. His performance showcased a stark contrast between the two halves of the course, as he started strong on the back nine but faced challenges on the front nine.

Malik, who began the day in third place, made a significant move with a five-under 65, which included six birdies and a single bogey on the par-five 17th. Despite feeling he didn't hit the ball as well as in his opening round, he managed to reach the top of the leaderboard.

Dhruv Sheoran, who was co-leading overnight, slipped to third place at 13-under 127 after a three-under 67 that included six birdies but was marred by a bogey and a double bogey.

Delhi's Honey Baisoya climbed to fourth place with another impressive six-under 64, making seven birdies and one bogey for a total of 12-under 128.

Bangladesh's Md Akbar Hossain and Chandigarh's Angad Cheema shared fifth place at seven-under 133.

Leaders Reflect on Their Rounds

Vishesh expressed satisfaction with his performance, noting the contrasting nature of his two nines. He mentioned, "I’m pleased with the round, although the two nines were quite contrasting. I started well on the back nine and put together a run of birdies, but the front nine was more of a mixed bag. A few things could have gone better, but it was important to adapt quickly and settle into the round."

The morning rain had softened the fairways, while stronger winds and tougher pin placements required players to adjust their strategies. Vishesh commented, "The course played very differently compared with yesterday. The fairways were much softer, the wind was considerably stronger, and the flags were tucked into more difficult areas. I had to adjust my strategy, aim for the correct sections of the greens and avoid chasing every flag."

He acknowledged that his familiarity with the course provided an edge, allowing him to identify safer misses, although he still faced challenging recovery shots.

Malik, on the other hand, was even more pleased with his second-round score of 65 compared to his opening 61, citing the tough situations he navigated successfully. He remarked, "I didn’t strike the ball particularly well today," and admitted that his initial score led him to play more aggressively than the course warranted.

Two birdies stood out for Malik: one on the second hole, where he drove the green into the headwind, and another on the challenging 18th hole.

Records and Noteworthy Performances

Youngest Player to Make the Cut

Fifteen-year-old Arjunveer Shishir from Panchkula made history as the youngest player to make the cut on the DP World PGTI, finishing with a seven-under 63 that placed him in a tie for 12th at five-under 135.

Three Holes-in-One Mark Historic Day

The round also marked a historic moment for the DP World PGTI, with three holes-in-one achieved on the same day. Abhinav Lohan and Anshul Kabthiyal both aced the par-three 11th hole, while Harman Sachdeva made his hole-in-one on the par-three seventh.

The Cut and Standings

The cut was set at one-over 141, allowing 59 players from a field of 132 to advance to the final two rounds. The Race to DP World India Championship aims to crown the top player of the DP World PGTI, determining the top-24 players from the Order of Merit who will qualify for the season-ending championship.