Shubhankar Sharma fired a seven-under 65 to extend his lead to four shots after the second round of the Rs 2 crore Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship at the Jaypee Greens Golf & Spa Resort in Greater Noida.
The 30-year-old Chandigarh golfer, who started the day two strokes behind overnight leader Shaurya Bhattacharya, recorded an eagle, seven birdies and two bogeys to finish the round at 11-under 133 overall.
Shubhankar, a two-time DP World Tour winner, returned to the winner’s circle at the Boulders Classic on the DP World PGTI in April, ending an eight-year wait for a professional title.
Chandigarh’s Brashwarpal Singh matched Shubhankar for the lowest score of the day with a seven-under 65. Singh’s round featured eight birdies and a single bogey, lifting him from tied 11th overnight to second place at seven-under 137.
Overnight leader Shaurya Bhattacharya of Delhi slipped to third at six-under 138 after an even-par 72, which included three birdies and three bogeys.
Bengaluru’s Khalin Joshi, who has four DP World PGTI titles this season, rose from tied 11th to fourth at five-under 139. His round included an eagle on the par-five fourth, five birdies and two bogeys. Joshi is currently second in the Race to DP World India Championship before this event.
Shubhankar expressed satisfaction with his ball-striking, which he felt had been inconsistent in recent weeks. “I played really well and felt very solid throughout the round,” he said. “My ball-striking had not been at its best over the past few weeks, even though there was not much wrong with my game. Today, everything came together.
“I hit the ball exactly where I wanted, shaped shots both ways and felt in complete control. I could have holed a few more putts, but I’m very pleased with the day.”
The highlight of his round was the eagle on the par-five fourth hole. After placing his drive on the left half of the fairway, Shubhankar hit a six-iron from approximately 212 yards to 18 feet and sank the putt. “The putt just caught the left edge,” he explained. “Most of my shots came off exactly as I had visualized them, and that was the most encouraging part.”
He continued to create scoring opportunities throughout the round, including on the final hole where he approached to around five feet but missed the birdie putt. “There were several shots like that today,” he added. “Those are positive signs for this tournament and also for my preparations for next week.”
Shubhankar also commended DP World PGTI President Kapil Dev for his role in advancing the tour. “Since Mr Kapil Dev became President, more sponsors have come on board, while the organisation, social media and player facilities have continued to improve,” he said. “The introduction of a players’ lounge is one example of the many positive changes on tour.”
Having recently played alongside Kapil Dev in a Pro-Am in Hyderabad, Shubhankar noted their shared Chandigarh connection. “Despite being one of India’s biggest sporting icons, he constantly looks for ways to promote golf and move the sport forward,” he said. “Everyone in Chandigarh calls him ‘Paaji,’ so speaking with him feels very easy. I have tremendous respect for everything he is doing for the game.”
Last season’s DP World PGTI Order of Merit winner Yuvraj Sandhu occupies fifth place at four-under 140 after rounds of 71 and 69. Race to DP World India Championship leader Saptak Talwar improved from tied 36th to tied 31st at three-over 147.
The Pro-Am on Thursday was won by the team of professional Shubhankar Sharma and amateur Rajeev Gupta with a score of 48 stableford points.