IGPL Mumbai: Kochhar takes sole lead, Pukhraj moves to second, Pranavi in Third

Karandeep Kochhar got the better off Pranavi Urs in what was their first-ever round together in a proper professional event, though they had Aman Raj for company in the lead three-ball of the second round of the IGPL Invitational Mumbai.

Kochhar (62-66), who had a share of the first-round lead with Pranavi, edged ahead with a 2-under 66 to be the sole leader at 8-under.

Pranavi (62-68) shot even par 68 but slipped down to third place at 6-under 130 as Pukhraj Singh Gill (66-63), who started the week without a practice round, fired a bogey-free 5-under 63 to rise to second place at 7-under 129.

Olympian Udayan Mane with 6-under 62, Manav Shah with 4-under 64 and Sachin Baisoya with a similar 4-under 64, were tied for the sixth place with 5-under

totals, while the IGPL Order of Merit leader, Aman Raj, was saved by a birdie on the last hole for an even par round of 68 and was seventh at 4-under.

Kochhar said, "This is only my second IGPL event and to win here would be really special. Coming off a win on the ADT in Egypt, I feel very confident. About five years ago on the Indian Tour, I went back-to-back. So, since I won my last event on the ADT, it'd be kind of nice to win back-to-back again. "

"I am really in a happy space on the IGPL right now and am happy to be associated with this bunch of people, some of whom I have looked up and are very close to me like Manav Jaini. I think it would be really special to win on just my second event because when I played my first event, I was right there in the lead heading for the back nine in Jaypee Greens. The win did not happen then, so, it will be nice to win now. " added Karandeep

"I just about beat Pranavi today by two shots, and we are in the same lead group again tomorrow. It was quite a good experience today. Actually, it was a seesaw for both of us and I am looking forward to playing together again tomorrow. Hopefully I get that win, but I would be equally happy if she were to win as well. "

Pranavi, smiled and said, "He (Karandeep) got the better of me today, but there is tomorrow. Let's see how it goes. "

Pukhraj, who shot 2-under 66 on the first day without having a practice round, as he came only the night before from Taiwan, was happy with his score. "My tee shots were my forte today. I didn't miss too many fairways. I think I probably hit 17 regulations. I didn't hit my approaches too well, meaning they were not that close, but I made a lot of mid-range putts. That's where I got my birdies. They were in the 15 to 22 feet range. "

"So that's how I got my bogey-free day. I didn't miss any green at all. One green that I missed, it was like a yard off the green. The hitting was sensational off the tee. I could have scored even better, and maybe I could have gone lower, but my approaches weren't as closed. Still a good day. "

"The momentum is definitely on my end, especially after Beldih. I feel a lot lighter going on to the golf course now. The pressure (of getting my first pro win) is off. You know, it's like the monkey off my back situation. "

Shaurya Binu and Kartik Singh, who carded even par 68 each and Tusshar Pannu with 3-under 65, rounded off the Top-10 with totals of 3-under 133.

SSP Chawrasia, one of the icon players of IGPL, shot a second straight 67 and was 2-under and just outside Top-10 at 11th place.