Calance Open: Kshitij Naveed Kaul sets new course record with 60, leads by one after Round 2
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Synopsis
Kshitij Naveed Kaul sets a new course record of 10-under 60, taking a one-shot lead at Calance Open 2025. His stunning performance at Qutab Golf Course puts him at 12-under 128 halfway through the tournament.
Key Takeaways
- Kshitij Naveed Kaul scores a record 10-under 60.
- Kaul leads by one shot at the Calance Open 2025.
- Karandeep Kochhar follows in second with 11-under 129.
- Sixty professionals made the halfway cut at even-par 140.
- Kaul's eagle on 16 helped secure his lead.
New Delhi, April 16 (NationPress) In an impressive display, Delhi’s Kshitij Naveed Kaul achieved a remarkable course record of 10-under 60 to seize a one-shot advantage with a total of 12-under 128 at the midpoint of the INR 1 crore Calance Open 2025 hosted at the Qutab Golf Course.
The 24-year-old Kaul (68-60), a four-time titleholder, started the day tied for 23rd place, trailing by four shots. He executed an eagle and accumulated eight birdies on Wednesday, skyrocketing 22 positions to take the second-round lead.
The renowned Mukesh Kumar from Mhow previously set a mark of 11-under 59 during the DDA Open at the same course in 2005. However, with the course’s renovation in 2018, Kaul’s stellar performance of 10-under 60 will now be recognized as the new course record.
Following Kaul, Karandeep Kochhar from Chandigarh improved upon his first round score of 65 with an impressive 64 in Round Two, elevating him to second place with a total of 11-under 129.
Another Chandigarh professional, Yuvraj Sandhu, matched his previous round of 65, landing him in third with a total of 10-under 130. The joint overnight leaders, Tapendra Ghai from Gurugram and Pukhraj Singh Gill from Ludhiana, both recorded 67s and fell to tied fourth at nine-under 131.
The cut was set at even-par 140, with sixty professionals making the cut.
On the front nine, Kaul secured four birdies, with two shots landing within a foot of the pin. His excellent skills in driving, pitching, chipping, and long-range putting culminated in an eagle on the 16th and four more birdies on the back nine.
Kaul expressed, “Today was exceptional as I excelled in all areas of my game and executed my shots perfectly. I felt confident from the start and was hitting my targets.”
He added, “I was focused on the process until the end, and it was only on the last hole that I recognized I had accomplished something remarkable. The fact that I had played just one practice round at this newly modified course makes my round even more special.”
The 25-year-old Karandeep Kochhar, a frequent winner on the PGTI and a regular on the Asian Tour, posted four birdies against one bogey on the back nine, followed by three more birdies on the front nine.
Kochhar commented, “I’ve been struggling with my putting this season, so I made a few adjustments. However, during this week’s practice, I reverted to an earlier technique, which has significantly improved my game over the last two days.”
Delhi’s Sachin Baisoya, who triumphed in Ahmedabad last week and is currently second in the PGTI Order of Merit, carded a 69 on day two, placing him tied 49th at even-par 140.
