Harmeet Kahlon putted like a dream to return a second round six-under 66 thereby pole-vaulting to a one-stroke lead at the Rs One million Hero Golf Chandigarh Open 2004, being played at the par-72 Chandigarh Golf Club.
Kahlon's tournament tally stands at 10-under 134.
Meanwhile, overnight leader amateur Harinder Gupta managed to stay in the limelight courtesy a hole-in-one on the par-3 eighth hole. Harinder's effort saw him tally seven-under 137 for third place with Kolkata's Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia making his own the second spot at nine-under 135.
The cut was applied at seven-over 151 with 51 pros making to the weekend rounds. Kahlon's putting was unbelievable judging from the fact that the India Cements sponsored golfer just couldn't miss from even 40 feet!
The defending champion returned 25 putts for his rounds including an astonishing 11 single putts.
Kahlon's round started with a par but he struck form early with a birdie on the very next hole. On the fourth, Kahlon sank a touch left to right 25-feet putt for his second birdie while making another on the fifth. On the seventh, the local hero sank a 40-footer to save another stroke. Riding on his new-found form on the greens, Kahlon found the cup through a 25-feet left to right uphill putt on the very next hole.
On his return journey, there was another successful 25-feet birdie effort, this time right to left on the undulating 11th green. A birdie on the 16th placed him at seven-under but his only bogey of the day, which came on the following hole forced him to settle for a card of 66.
"It was just one of those days, I just couldn't miss," said Kahlon. "My feel was there right through and it also helped that I know the Chandigarh Golf Club greens very well," added the Oil India employee.
SSP Chowrasia's effort was more an act of will considering the fact that the diminutive Kolkatan suffered a serious motorcycle accident about a month ago. It happened on his way back him after practice in Kolkata when a stray dog emerged from under a car so suddenly that Chowrasia had no choice but to try and skid away. Bruised wrists, elbows and knees and fractured fingers on his left hand were the result of his adventure.
Today, Chowrasia used those very fingers to birdie five holes on his way for a card of 68. The 25-year-old birdied the second, fifth, sixth, 12th and 13th with a bogey on the 15th taking away to an extent the sheen on his card.
"I am extremely pleased with my game after along time. A title here would be a confidence booster," said Chowrasia.
Harinder's round started with a bogey. "I was not too worried at that stage but there were times when I felt a bit concerned," said the youngster who is chasing the dream of becoming the first amateur to win a pro event on the Hero Honda Indian Golf Tour. His card contained birdies on the fourth, 10th, 13th and 17th, bogeys other than the first on the fifth and the 12th, a double bogey on the sixth and the hole-in-one on the eighth. On that occasion, the ONGC-sponsored Harinder used an 8-iron to ace the third hole of his career.
Scores (after 36 holes) Pros: 134_Harmeet Kahlon (68,66); 135_SSP Chowrasia (67,68); 138_C Muniyappa (67,71); Amandeep Johl (70,68); 139_Gurbaaz Mann (70,69); 140_Randhir Ghotra (69,71); 141_Uttam Mundy (70,71); 142_Shiv Prakash (71,71), Mohd. Maqbool (74,68), Mukesh Kumar (67,75); 143_KPS Sekhon (75,68), Yusuf Ali (71,72), Bhoop Singh (71,72).
Amateurs: 137_Harinder Gupta (66,71); 144_Girish Virk (71,73).