Colombo, Dec 24 (NationPress) After an uncertain beginning marked by two bogeys in the initial four holes, Aryan Roopa Anand fought back on the second day of the IGPL Invitational Sri Lanka, concluding the eventful round at the top of the leaderboard.

Aryan, the overnight leader, maintained his position at 11-under, with local amateur Kaya Daluwatte and seasoned Indian golfer SSP Chawrasia closely trailing at 10-under. Legendary golfer Jeev Milkha Singh, a four-time champion on both the European and Japan Tours, held the fourth spot.

Following closely was Gaganjeet Bhullar (67-67), a record 11-time winner on the Asian Tour, sharing the fifth place with Chiragh Kumar (71-63), Aman Raj (66-68), and rookie Veer Ganapathy (67-67), all positioning themselves at 8-under after 36 holes.

Chiragh showcased the best round of the day, carding an impressive 8-under 63, which included four consecutive birdies from the fifth to the eighth holes, and four additional birdies in the final seven holes, totaling nine birdies against one bogey. “That was the best I’ve played in a while, especially after recovering from serious injuries,” Chiragh remarked.

The winner of the IGPL UAE, Karandeep Kochhar (68), stood in ninth place, just four shots off the lead, showcasing the unpredictability of the course where leads can vanish quickly. With a recent win in Dubai and prior success in Egypt, he emerged as a potential dark horse.

As the inaugural season of the IGPL neared its conclusion at the historic Royal Colombo Golf Club, the leaderboard highlighted a blend of young talent and seasoned players, with only three shots separating the top eight competitors.

Aryan (69) overcame his earlier bogeys, finishing strong with a birdie on the 18th hole to secure a 2-under score. He added four birdies while avoiding further bogeys, having birdied the seventh, 12th, 15th, and the final hole. Local talent Kaya Daluwatte (67) continued to impress with a remarkable season on the international amateur circuit.

The crowd favorite, Kaya, shared the second position with SSP Chawrasia (66). Unfortunately, Kaya encountered a triple bogey on the 17th hole after hitting a tree and landing in a bunker. Chawrasia, aiming for his first IGPL win, expressed, “It’s been a while since I won, and having an IGPL trophy alongside my other accolades would be wonderful.”

Holding the fourth spot was the legendary Jeev Milkha Singh, who aspires to add the IGPL Sri Lanka title to his impressive record. Despite missing several birdie opportunities, he praised Kaya’s performance, recognizing her maturity and skill, especially for a 17-year-old golfer.

Kaya’s accomplishments in Sri Lankan amateur golf are unparalleled, with her images gracing the hallways of the Royal Colombo Golf Club. She also made history as the first Sri Lankan to secure a medal at the recent Asian Youth Games.

The format of the tournament was well-received by golfing legends Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa, who noted the educational experience provided to the younger players by watching the region's superstars.

Randhawa echoed Jeev’s sentiments about the bright future of young players like his son Zoravar, Jeev’s son Harjai, and others, remarking that the course turned into a “golf classroom.”

While Veer Ganapathy performed well, Zoravar outperformed his father for the second consecutive day, now at 4-under and tied for 12th, while Jyoti found himself in 31st place. Jeev’s son, amateur Harjai (67), also surpassed his father’s performance.