Local lad Sunhit Bishnoi holds the clubhouse lead on day two of Kapil Dev Grant Thornton Invitational 2023

 Khel Today Bureau 

Gurugram: Gurugram-based Sunhit Bishnoi struck an error-free two-under 70 at his home course to hold the second-round clubhouse lead at a total of five-under 139 at the end of day two of the INR 2 crore Kapil Dev Grant Thornton Invitational 2023 presented by DLF being played at the DLF Golf & Country Club in Gurugram.

Round one resumed at 9 am on Thursday as there was a two-hour fog delay. After the completion of round one, round two began at 11:10 am. Out of a total of 120 players, 36 players could complete round two on Thursday as play was suspended due to fading light at 5:16 pm. Round two will now resume at 7 am on Friday. The tournament has been reduced to a 54-hole event and the third and final round will be played on Saturday.

Sunhit Bishnoi (69-70) completed the remaining eight holes from his first round early in the day. He made five birdies and two bogeys in round one as he fired it within a range of four feet with his irons and wedges on four of his birdies.

The 22-year-old Bishnoi, a winner on the PGTI this year and currently placed 16^th in the Order of Merit, then followed up his solid opening round effort of 69 with a steady 70 in round two. The highlight of Sunhit’s second round were three 15-feet conversions, two for birdies on the 10^th and 17^th and one to save par on the 18^th.

Sunhit said, “As this is my home course, I’m quite familiar with it from tee to green. That adds to my comfort level and confidence when I play a tournament here. I hit some great shots from a range of 100 to 150 yards and my putting was also top-notch.”

“I played 26 holes today and that requires a lot of stamina and fitness. All the hard work I put into improving my fitness pays off on days such as these when I have to play more than 18 holes.”

Kevin Esteve Rigaill (72-70) of Andorra was second in the clubhouse with a total of two-under 142.

Earlier in the day, round one ended with Shaurya Binu joining Rashid Khan and Karan Pratap Singh in the joint lead at four-under 68. Rashid and Karan were the clubhouse leaders when play was suspended on day one.

Rashid and Karan are yet to start their second round while Shaurya shot a 78 in round two to slip down the leaderboard at a total of two-over 146.

Reigning champion Varun Parikh, who shot a 78 in round one, is yet to begin his second round.