Khalin Joshi Leads Nava Raipur Open with Impressive Performance
Khalin Joshi Dominates the Second Round
In Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Khalin Joshi showcased an exceptional performance by scoring a bogey-free four-under 30, extending his lead to two strokes after the second round of the inaugural Rs 1 crore Nava Raipur Open at the Fairway Golf & Lake Resort.
The 34-year-old golfer from Bengaluru, who started the day with a one-shot lead, recorded four birdies, bringing his total to nine-under 59 at the halfway mark, as reported by the tournament organizers.
Joshi, a two-time champion on the DP World PGTI this season and currently ranked 12th in the Race to the DP World India Championship, has maintained a flawless score over the first 18 holes.
Due to heavy rainfall, the course was deemed unsuitable for full 18-hole play, leading the Tournament Committee to conduct all four rounds on the back nine.
Aryav Shah, a 20-year-old from Kolkata, finished the round with a three-under 31, making four birdies and one bogey, placing him in a tie for second at seven-under 61 alongside Nepal's Subash Tamang, Bengaluru's Akshay Neranjen, and Panchkula's Raunil Kukar.
Tamang, aged 24, delivered the best score of the second round with five birdies in a bogey-free 29, propelling him into contention.
Joshi kicked off his round with a birdie, executing a hybrid shot from the tee followed by an accurate approach.
"It was another solid day," Joshi commented. "I felt a bit more cautious and less at ease than yesterday, but I kept hitting quality shots throughout the round. I'm satisfied with my performance."
His two consecutive bogey-free rounds highlight the excellence of Joshi's ball-striking.
"My game has been consistent from tee to green," he noted. "I've been placing my approaches close to the flags, which has minimized the number of long birdie attempts I face."
Joshi capitalized on scoring chances at the 10th, 12th, and 13th holes during both rounds.
"The 12th hole is drivable, and the 13th is a short par five where a good tee shot presents a great birdie chance," he explained. "I've executed good tee shots on both holes and taken advantage. I hope to keep this up in the final two rounds."
Seven players are tied for sixth place at six-under 62, including Umed Kumar from Chandigarh, Sunit Chowrasia from Kolkata, Veer Ahlawat from Gurugram, Chalitha Pushpika from Sri Lanka, Vasu Sehgal from Chandigarh, Bipin Mukhiya from Noida, and Karan Pratap Singh from Faridabad.
Chowrasia earned his spot in the DP World PGTI after winning three consecutive NexGen events and finishing at the top of the rankings, while Ahlawat was the champion of the 2024 DP World PGTI Rankings.
The cut was set at three-under 65, allowing 56 players from a field of 132 to progress to the final two rounds.
The Race to DP World India Championship will determine the top player in the DP World PGTI and the top 24 players from the DP World PGTI Order of Merit who will qualify for the season-ending DP World India Championship.