Bangaldesh golfer Md Zamal Hossain Mollah at the event. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Vivek Bhandari of Delhi returned a five under 65 at the Golmuri Golf Course to take the lead in round two of the 10th Tata Open on Friday. He now has a total score of seven under 135.

Jyoti Randhawa also shot a 65 at Golmuri to be one stroke off the lead in second place.

The cut was declared at three over 145. Fifty-one professionals and one amateur made the cut.

On Thursday, one half of the field had played its 18 holes at the par 72 Beldih course while the golfers in the other half had completed their rounds at the par 70 Golmuri course.

Vivek, who was overnight tied 13th after his opening round of two under 70 at Beldih, got off to a brilliant start on Day Three.

He birdied the opening hole with a 15-feet putt.

Jyoti Randhawa at the Tata Open tourney on Friday. Picture by Bhola Prasad

“I kept the ball in play and made some long putts. I knew it was important to putt well today in order to stay in contention. I also hit it really close on a couple of occasions to set up birdies. I’ve spent some of my childhood years here so it feels great to perform well at this venue,” he said.

Jyoti climbed overnight from tied 16th to second place as a result of his 65 in round two at Golmuri. The Gurgaon-based professional made six birdies and a bogey in the second round.

Md Zamal Hossain Mollah (65-72) of Bangladesh and Faridabad’s Abhinav Lohan (71-66) are tied third at five under 137.

Karan Taunk of Jamshedpur was the lone amateur to make the cut. He is in tied 36th place at the moment with a total score of two over 144.