Round 2 RCGC Open Golf Championship: Kshitij Naveed Kaul climbs to top with 65

The 20-year-old Kshitij (69-65), a winner on the PGTI in 2019, struck the tournament’s best round which included nine birdies and two bogeys to take his 36-hole tally to 10-under 134 for a two-shot lead.

Kaul jumped five spots from his overnight tied sixth.

Earlier in the day, cricket legend Kapil Dev came down to the RCGC here to support the field sport he took up passionately, post retiring from cricket.

Panchkula's Angad Cheema (68-68), part of the five-way lead in round one, shot a second consecutive 68 to occupy second place at eight-under 136.

Gurugram lad Ankur Chadha (68-69), a joint leader in round one, ended round two in third place at seven-under 137 following his 69 Friday.

Kshitij said, “It’s great to have made nine birdies today. The big difference between yesterday and today’s round was that my ball-striking was better today and I also converted some long putts. I came back well after those two bogeys in the middle of the round."

Last week's Indian Oil Servo Masters Golf Championship winner Yuvraj Singh Sandhu tied fourth at six-under 138 along with Ahmedabad’s Anshul Patel, Delhi’s Chiragh Kumar and Om Prakash Chouhan of Mhow.

Defending champion Mithun Perera (73-73) of Sri Lanka was tied 33 at two-over 146.

Sunit Chowrasia was the highest-placed Kolkata golfer who tied eighth at five-under 139. His second round 68 included four successive birdies on the front-nine.