How Did Mari Muthu R. Take the Sole Lead on Day Two?

Synopsis
Bengaluru’s Mari Muthu R. has taken the lead in the PGTI NexGen event at Forest Hill Golf & Country Club. With a stunning recovery on the second day, he aims for his first professional title. Discover how the competition unfolded and the standout performances from this thrilling tournament.
Key Takeaways
- Mari Muthu R. leads the PGTI NexGen event with three-under 125.
- Umed Kumar is in second place, making a strong pro debut.
- The tournament is held at the Forest Hill Golf & Country Club, a par-64 course.
- Forty-one professionals moved on to the final round.
- Strong performances from emerging talents are shaping the competition.
S.A.S. Nagar (Punjab), June 12 (NationPress) - Mari Muthu R. from Bengaluru (61-64), who was tied for the lead overnight, scored an even-par 64 to seize the solo lead with a total of three-under 125 on day two of the PGTI NexGen tournament held at the Forest Hill Golf & Country Club in S.A.S. Nagar, Punjab.
The 24-year-old Umed Kumar from Chandigarh (61-66), his fellow overnight leader making his professional debut this week, finished the second round with a two-over 66, dropping to second place with a total of one-under 127.
Md Razu from Bangladesh (65-65) is currently in third place with a total of two-over 130. The Forest Hill Golf & Country Club features a par-64 nine-hole course that is played twice per round.
The cut was set at 10-over 138, allowing 41 professionals to advance to the final round.
Mari Muthu R., seeking his first professional title, started the day slowly with two birdies, three bogeys, and a double-bogey over the first 12 holes, struggling with his putting.
After falling three-over for the day through 12 holes, the 40-year-old Mari Muthu made an impressive comeback, sinking three birdies in the last six holes, landing his wedge shots within four feet each time.
“It was very windy, making it tough to control my shots, which reflected in my scores. My wedge play and chipping were excellent again today, but my putting was subpar, missing several short putts,” said Mari Muthu.
“I regained momentum from the 13th hole onwards with a fantastic chip shot that set up a simple tap-in birdie. I played much better from there and feel confident heading into the final round.”
Umed Kumar encountered two bogeys in his second round of 66.
The Tricity native, Umed Kumar, made a striking professional debut on Wednesday, shooting a three-under 61 to tie for the opening round lead with Mari Muthu R. in the fourth event of the PGTI NexGen season.
On Wednesday, Umed Kumar from Chandimandir's SEPTA golf course registered four birdies and one bogey, while Mari Muthu achieved six birdies and three bogeys. Sachin Chouhan from Mhow currently occupies third place with one-under 63, while Irfan Ali Mollah from Kolkata carded an even-par 64 to rank fourth.