Macau Oct 20 (IANS) Indian golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar eagled the 18th and final hole of the second round to score six-under 65 and retain the lead at the top of the Macao Open on Friday.
The 29-year-old signalled his strong intentions to win the prestigious tournament for the second time when he fired one eagle and five birdies against a bogey for a 65 that took his total to 13-under 129.
Bhullar who held a share of the overnight lead rolled in four birdies to turn in 31. He picked up another birdie on the 13th hole but stumbled with a lone bogey on the 15th before bouncing back strongly with an eagle-three on the 18th at the Macau Golf and Country Club.
After a solid drive down the middle of the 18th fairway the talented Indian hit a superb three-wood second shot from about 270 yards which hit the pin flag before settling two feet from the hole for a tap-in eagle.
"It was a good solid round. It was windy. It wasn t easy. I thought it was slightly more difficult than yesterday. I made a good par save on the first hole and that kept me going " Bhullar said in an Asian Tour release.
"I won t be thinking about winning right now. The goal is to keep doing what I have been doing for the first two rounds. If I can do that it will be fortunate for me."
Another Indian Ajeetesh Sandhu continued his red-hot form to sign for a 67 and move into an outright second place keeping up his chase for a third straight victory in three weeks at the $500 000 full-field Asian Tour event.
Overnight co-leader Giwhan Kim of Korea returned with a 70 to trail by five shots in third place alongside Filipino ace Angelo Que who posted a bogey-free 67. Thailand s Prom Meesawat (67) and young Indian Shubhankar Sharma (68) shared fifth place on five-under 137.
Reigning Order of Merit champion Scott Hend of Australia carded a 68 to tie in 20th position on 141 while defending champion Pavit Tangkamolprasert of Thailand battled to a 70 to stay a further shot back in tied-31st place.
A total of 71 players including an amateur made the halfway cut set at three-over 145 at the Macao Open which is celebrating its 19th edition this week.
Among other Indians Rashid Khan was tied 14th following a second consecutive 70.
Khalin Joshi (71) Chiragh Kumar )72) and S. Chikka (one-over 72) shared the 20th spot on 141 total while veteran Jyoti Randhawa was tied 39th on 143 total (70-73).
--IANS
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