Sharma Takes the Lead at the Hero Indian Open
Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma is making a strong bid for victory at the Hero Indian Open, seizing the lead after two rounds.
Sharma, the defending champion, carded impressive rounds of 65 and 67, putting him one stroke ahead of Masahiro Kawamura and Ewen Ferguson, who are tied for second place.
Despite a shaky start on the front nine, Sharma rallied with an eagle on the par-5 18th hole, igniting a strong back nine performance. He added four birdies against a single bogey, showcasing his ability to recover and capitalize on scoring opportunities.
This resurgence marks a promising return to form for the 25-year-old Sharma. After securing two DP World Tour victories in 2018, he faced a period of inconsistency, with only six top-10 finishes between 2019 and 2021. However, 2022 has seen a resurgence, highlighted by a runner-up finish at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in January.
Five French Players Advance to the Weekend
Five of the ten French golfers competing in the tournament have successfully made the cut and will play in the weekend rounds.
Adrien Saddier leads the French contingent, posting a commendable 67 (-4) on Friday to erase the memory of his opening round 75 (+4). Frederic Lacroix also sits comfortably at even par, currently in 63rd position.
Antoine Rozner endured a rollercoaster round, recording five birdies and six bogeys, ultimately finishing at -1 total and in 51st place. Julien Brun, who started the day at -3, carded a par round of 71, dropping him to 25th place.
Matthieu Pavon, after briefly threatening the lead at -8 through 10 holes, stumbled on holes 11, 12, and 13, ultimately finishing at -5 and securing a spot in the top 10.
