Coimbatore Open golf: Manish Thakran’s 66 propels him into joint lead with two others at halfway stage

Delhi-based Saptak Talwar was placed fourth at nine-under 135.The cut was applied at three-over 147 with 55 professionals making it to the third round.Manish Thakran (68-66), lying overnight tied fifth and two off the lead, was off to a flier on Wednesday with five birdies on his back-nine all coming as a result of some great wedge shots with four of them landing within three feet of the flag.The 27-year-old Manish then had a mixed front-nine as the wind picked up, collecting four birdies and three bogeys as he kept firing it in for tap-ins but also made a couple of three-putts.Manish, who turned pro in 2021, said, “The last two days I hit my wedges really close and my putting stood out as I was quite consistent on the greens. I’m quite excited to be playing in the leader group for the first time.“I missed the first half of the season due to a rib fracture. In fact, I couldn’t play any golf for three months due to my injury. When I began playing in June, I only played rounds and didn’t go to the range. That’s the routine I’ve always followed and I feel it helps me, playing on the course rather than spending time at the range. Coming back from injury, these first two rounds have been a huge morale-booster, added Thakran, who plays at the Classic Golf Resort in Gurugram.Rookie Aryan Roopa Anand (66-68) mixed six birdies with two bogeys to continue in the joint lead for the second day running. Aryan made a chip-in on the 13th and landed it within a foot on two occasions.The 21-year-old Aryan said, “I missed some of my tee shots but they were on the correct side. I played smart and was not overly optimistic.N Thangaraja (66-68) also continued in the joint lead following his eagle on the ninth, four birdies and two bogeys. Thangaraja began and ended his round with chip-ins, the birdie on the 10th and the eagle on the ninth.Saptak Talwar, the overnight joint leader, shot a 69 on day two to drop down to fourth place.Delhi’s Harshjeet Singh Sethie (67) was a further stroke behind in fifth place.Round 2 Leaderboard:134: Manish Thakran (68-66); Aryan Roopa Anand (66-68); N Thangaraja (66-68)135: Saptak Talwar (66-69)136: Harshjeet Singh Sethie (69-67).--IANSbsk

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