Jamshedpur, Nov 6 (NationPress) Pukhraj Singh Gill maintained his aggressive play by posting an impressive round of 8-under 64 to complement his earlier score of 9-under 63, securing a commanding lead after two rounds at the IGPL Invitational in Jamshedpur.

The 29-year-old from Ludhiana now stands at 17-under overall at the challenging Par-72 Beldih Course. Remarkably, he has recorded just one bogey against 16 birdies and an eagle, achieved on the Par-5 16th hole. He started strong with a hat-trick of birdies from the second hole, adding two more on the sixth and seventh to finish the front nine at 5-under.

On the back nine, he birdied the 10th and 12th holes, and made an eagle on the 16th, with his only blemish occurring on the Par-4 14th.

Pukhraj, a runner-up at IGPL Jaypee Greens, is in pursuit of his first professional title, boasting a significant seven-shot lead over established player Sachin Baisoya (67-67), marking the largest margin after two rounds in the tournament's history. Baisoya is also aiming for his first victory on the IGPL Tour.

Harendra Gupta from Chandigarh, a seasoned winner on the Indian Tour, added a bogey-free 4-under 68 to his first round of 67, placing him third at 9-under.

Former Asian Tour champion Chiragh Kumar made a surprising entry into the Top-5, gradually regaining form after injuries. Starting with a bogey on the fourth hole, he rallied with four birdies and an eagle on the 16th for a round of 67, placing him at 8-under in fourth position.

Current IGPL Order of Merit leader Aman Raj (69-70), who was eyeing a unique hat-trick following wins in Jaipur and Kolkata, is tied for tenth with M Dharma (70-69), Kapil Kumar (72-67), Aryan Roopa Anand (71-68), Trishul Chinnappa (69-70), and young Kartik Singh (70-69) at 5-under.

An ecstatic Pukhraj, with only one bogey in 36 holes, stated, “This week has been fantastic for me. Everything feels right, and the hole seems bigger. Having only one bogey helps maintain patience and focus since my game is flowing well.”

“I’m pleased with my performance today. I barely missed a shot, and finishing with an eagle on 16 provided a boost for tomorrow. My game plan is solid; I don’t intend to change much. The course suits my style, particularly my shot shape, and I feel very comfortable with my striking right now.”

“Golf can be unpredictable; stray shots can happen. Having a two or three-shot cushion is definitely advantageous,” added Pukhraj Gill.

Reflecting on the beautiful Jamshedpur Golf Course, he noted, “This course is longer with well-defined tree lines, which plays to my advantage. The grass type is also different, and overall it feels more challenging than the Golmuri Golf Course. While Golmuri has its own character, this course demands more precision and control.”

Discussing his second-place competitor, Sachin Baisoya, who played in the same group, Pukhraj commented, “Both of us performed well today. Golf is an individual sport; you often find yourself in your own zone — I focused on my game, while he likely focused on his. We both played great.”

Baisoya expressed satisfaction with his round, stating, “It went well. My approach was strong, especially with my iron shots, though I missed a few short putts which affected my scoring.”

He added, “I’m pleased with my bogey-free round. Tomorrow, I plan to keep my focus on fairways and greens. If I stay consistent, I’ll make pars, and any birdies will be a bonus.”

Harendra Gupta is also optimistic about his game, saying, “Over the past five or six years, my game has improved significantly. My driving has become much better. I’m thrilled to see my game returning. It’s about playing my overall game, staying focused, and tackling challenges as they arise.”

Shat Mishra (71-66) and Saarthak Chibber (71-66) are tied for fifth at 7-under, while former Indian Open champion Chinnaswamy Muniyappa (69-69), Yash Chandra (68-70), and Sudhir Sharma (67-71) are tied for seventh at 6-under.

Young Kartik Singh, currently second in the IGPL Order of Merit, is tied for tenth with Aman Raj, veteran M Dharma, IGPL Pune winner Kapil Kumar, former two-time All India Amateur winner Aryan Roopa Anand, and Trishul Chinnappa.