Shubhankar races to 2nd, Grillo in lead after Day 2

Gurugram, March 9: Pre-tourment favourite Shubhankar Sharma of India delivered a course-record score of eight-under 64 while Emiliano Grillo of Argenti carded a 68 to take the lead in round two of the Hero Indian Open here on Friday. Shubhankar's stellar show vaulted him 55 places to the second place at seven-under 137 two-day total at the Gary Player layout of the DLF Golf and Country Club. Grillo, meanwhile, leads by a comfortable four shots on 11-under 133 total.

The 21-year-old Indian, lying tied 55th after round one, broke the previous course record of 65 held jointly by Grillo, who achieved the number in round one on Thursday, as well as Malaysian Gavin Green, who fired the score at the last edition of the Indian Open.

The top-ranked Indian golfer, who was five-over through his first nine holes in round one, staged a remarkable fightback to rise into contention by going 12-under over the next 27 holes.

Shubhankar, the highest-ranked player in the field at world No.66, was two-under for the day when he made the turn on Friday but then put his foot on the pedal on the back-nine with six birdies which included a tap-in on the 10th and a 30-feet conversion on the 12th.

Shubhankar, who had a tied ninth finish at last week's WGC event in Mexico City, said, "Today's round will definitely rank up there as one of my most significant achievements, especially when it is played at this course. This is a tough course and it is not easy to go low here. I'm very happy with the way I played. I shot a few low numbers in my career and this one is right in my top five.

"I know I had to get a good start. I normally try to do as best as I can on the front nine. I did my best, but it was still two-under-par. But I was hitting it well, even though the back nine is tougher than the front nine, I knew I could still make birdies." IANS