Lubumbashi (Congo), Apr 22 (PTI) Young Shaurya Binu continued his fine run in the African Swing, carding a brilliant nine-under 64 to move atop the leaderboard after two rounds at the AM Green IGPL Invitational Congo.
The 21-year-old Binu, who is balancing his academics with golf and has recorded two top-10 finishes on the African Swing over the past two weeks, opened with a one-under 72 in the first round at the Par-73 Golf Club Lubumbashi.
He then produced a stunning nine-under in the second round to move to 10-under after 36 holes, giving him a two-shot lead over four players.
The four player pack behind him includes first round co-leaders Mannat Brar (67-71) and Tushar Pannu (67-71), last week’s winner Udayan Mane (70-68) and Aryan Roopa Anand (71-67), all at eight under after two days.
Teeing off from the first, Binu, who has been in strong form with a seventh place finish in Mauritius and a tied fourth in Joburg, made a steady start before opening his birdie account on the par four fourth.
He then surged with three straight birdies from the sixth and capped the run with an eagle on the ninth to turn in six under.
He held steady with five pars on the back nine before finishing strongly with birdies on three of his last four holes.
Mane climbed four spots with a five under round, finishing strongly with three birdies in his last four holes after an up and down front nine that featured three birdies and a bogey.
Pannu, 21, whose best finish in his last three starts has been a tied 19th, carded a two-under 71 despite an eagle on the par five sixth, adding three birdies but also dropping three shots to finish on a disappointing note.
After going four-under over holes 15 to 18 in round one, he struggled on the same stretch in round two, slipping to one over.
For Mannat, who turned pro after a stellar amateur career, the goal is to try and become only the second Indian woman to win a mixed gender pro event after Pranavi Urs’ success last season. After a fine 67, she had a sedate 2-under 71 with three birdies and one bogey but is very much in contention.
Meanwhile, Atri Mumbai was leading after two rounds in the team competition.
With Pannu’s round being one of the two counting cards, Mane added more power with his 5-under effort and the team was 17-under and six shots ahead of Honer Gurugram.
For Honer, Binu has been the star with his efforts being counted on both days. Digraj Singh Gill’s 74 was the next best and the team was second at 11-under.
Auro Realty Goa powered by Varun Chopra’s 68 moved to third.
The team winners will be decided at the end of the season. PTI AM AM PDS PDS
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