Madappa races to 7-stroke lead

Overnight leader and local favourite Viraj Madappa carded a three-under 69 to extend his lead to seven strokes on the second day of the Toyota IGU All India Finals in Kolkata on Wednesday. Madappa, who last week won the Toyota IGU Eastern India championship to stay in the hunt for Player of the Year, was way ahead of his nearest challenger Mohan Sardar, who scored a two-over 74, in the U-18 boys section. After 36 holes, Sardar was at 148, while DLF Golf and Country Club’s Manu Gandhas was third with a total of 149 having scored three-over 75. However, it was Anand Singh Ahalawat (U-18 category) and Tutul Ali (U-14 category) who stole the limelight with a hole-in-one each on the second hole. In the U-18 girls category, Delhi Golf Club’s Gurbani Singh put herself in the sole lead with a six-over par 78 for an aggregate of 161. Millie Saroha (DGC) climbed the leader board with a seven over 79 to the second spot. Aastha Madan from DLF, Gurgaon, was third with an aggregate of 164. In the U-14 boys’ category, DGC’s Piyush Sangwan held onto his overnight lead with a five-over 77 for an aggregate of 149. Hole-in-one hero Ali was at the second place with an aggregate of 152, while Tanvir Kahlon (Air Force Golf Course, Delhi) was third at 159. In the girls’ U-14 category, Bangalore Golf Club’s young prodigy Aditi Ashok stayed in the lead despite a poor 10-over 82, for a two-day total of 159. DGC’s Ridhima Dilawari was second with a score of 165.