NAKAJIMA PRODUCES MASTERCLASS ON FRONT NINE TO SHARE LEAD WITH CHACARRA AT HERO INDIAN OPEN
A DOZEN INDIANS MAKE THE CUT WITH GAGANJEET BHULLAR BEST AT T-20
Defending champion Keita Nakajima of Japan produced an electric front nine with seven birdies and then battled it out on the back stretch to put together a 6-under 66, that gave him a share of the lead after Round 2 at the 2025 Hero Indian Open. Nakajima shared the lead with Spain’s Eugenio Chacarra, who added a second straight 70 to get to 4-under at the US$ 2.25 million event.
The co-leaders were two shots clear of the large group of five players in a tie for third at 2-under. The five included Jens Danthorp (71-71), Kiradech Aphibarnrat (71-71), Andrea Pavan (73-69), Matthew Jordan (69-73) and Joost Luiten (69-73).
A dozen Indians led by Gaganjeet Bhullar (72-73) made the cut on a day when only two players broke 70 and only 11 players carded under par.
The 12 Indians to make the cut are Bhullar (T-20), Aman Raj, Ajeetesh Sandhu and Shiv Kapur (all T-25), Veer Ahlawat and Kshitij Naveed Kaul (both T-31), OP Chouhan, Sachin Baisoya and Jairaj Sandhu (all T-41); Saptak Talwar and Shubhankar Sharma (both T-52) and Shaurya Bhattacharya (T-58)
The cut fell at 6-over and 68 players made the cut. Among those missing out narrowly was the teen amateur Kartik Singh (76-75) and Rayhan Thomas (72-79) as they missed the cut by one shot.
Bhullar was happy with his play and said, “I played well yesterday and today. Yesterday, I finished even par and today was plus one. I drove the ball really well, hit lots and lots of greens in regulation. I made a few good up-and-downs, too. Now the goal is to basically maintain the same momentum.”
For Aman Raj, one of the four Indians at Tied-25, was thrilled with his return to the Hero Indian Open and at the DLF Golf and Country Club, which is his home course. He said, “Honestly, it was a proper roller coaster ride. The fact that I’m playing golf after such a long time is such a bliss. I’m enjoying it thoroughly. Just when I got the green signal from the doctor, I went for my rehab; and I wanted to give it my best shot. I can’t express the feeling I’m going through right now.”
Even as DLF Golf and Country Club bared its teeth and lived up to its reputation of being one of the most challenging ones on the DP World Tour, Nakajima appeared to be in a different world as he went about his business on the front nine.
While most players were slipping down the leaderboard, Nakajima made a huge move by turning in 29 after carding seven birdies and no bogeys after nine holes. The only holes he did not make birdies on were the second and the eighth at that point. That helped him make ground on Chacarra, who started the day four shots clear of the Japanese.
Nakajima and Chacarra started almost at the same time, but on the opposite sides of the course. Yet, they seemed to be battling in a one-on-one manner.
As Nakajima went about piling birdies, Chacarra had four birdies in a five hole stretch finding a double on the 17th. He made up with a birdie on the 18th.
After Chacarra made a double bogey on the 17th, Nakajima found himself tied at the top, and he soon led on his own after getting up and down for a birdie on the ninth to turn in 29.
Nakajima saved par from five feet at the tenth, bogeyed the 11th but curled in from 20 feet at the 13th for a birdie. He gave the shot straight back on the 14th but a monster birdie putt at the 15th saw him regain the outright lead. Then, he made vital saves at the 16th and 17th before surrendering a bogey at the last to finish on four under.
Nakajima said: “It was a great day and also it was so fun. Two rounds, so yeah, two more days. So my mindset changed. This is a tough course but a fun course. Me and my caddie were talking about playing it like a fun course. Just keep patient, and keep smiling. That was good.
“Maybe I will feel a little nervous tomorrow morning but I will try playing with a smile and also have fun. That’d be great.”
Chacarra started at the tenth tee and made a hat-trick of gains at the 11th, 12th and 13th before holing from three feet on the 15th to move to six under.
A double bogey at the 17th stalled his progress but he got the shots back with birdies on the 18th and third respectively after first producing a delightful chip and then sending his tee-shot to tap-in range.
But back-to-back bogeys on the fourth and fifth saw Chacarra finish the day on four under.
He said: “Obviously it was tough. The afternoon wave in a course like this is going to be tougher and the wind picked up I think pretty much all day but it was tough.
“Obviously really pleased with the result. I think I started really good but I think I left some out there to be honest.
“I’m just trying to have fun. I know this course is a test for everyone and one bad swing hits you hard. So I’m happy with the result but obviously it’s only Friday. Really excited for hopefully a good weekend.”
