Akshay Sharma and Dhruv Sheoran shared the halfway lead at nine-under 135 after round two of the INR 1 crore DP World Players Championship at Classic Golf & Country Club in Nuh.
Chandigarh’s Akshay Sharma (70-65) produced the round of the day — a seven-under 65 — to surge from tied 14th into a share of the lead. His card featured nine birdies against two bogeys, capped by a closing birdie.
Gurugram’s Dhruv Sheoran (69-66), a winner on the tour in 2024, matched him at the top with a six-under 66 that included an eagle on the par-5 14th, along with six birdies and two bogeys.
Japan’s Taiga Tanaka (68-68), Kolkata’s Sunit Chowrasia (70-66) and Nepal’s Sukra Bahadur Rai (70-66) were one shot back at eight-under 136. While Tanaka stayed steady with back-to-back 68s, Chowrasia and Rai made strong moves with rounds of 66.
Overnight co-leaders Harman Sachdeva (67-70) and Jamal Hossain (67-70) slipped into a seven-way tie for sixth at seven-under 137. They were joined by Mani Ram (69-68), Rohit Narwal (68-69), Himmat Singh Rai (70-67), Viraj Madappa (71-66) and Manoj S (70-67).
Akshay credited his all-round sharpness for the move up the board. “I was spot on today — my ball-striking was good and I putted really well,” he said.
A key stretch around the turn proved decisive. “I built momentum with a birdie on the ninth, chipped in on the 10th and then made a long putt on the 11th. After that, I kept it going,” he added.
Sheoran’s highlight came on the 14th. “I hit a good drive and had about 218 yards left. I played it safe with a longer club and it finished three feet from the hole,” he said.
“I started well in calmer conditions and took advantage of the par-5s. Playing here before definitely helped. I’m just focusing on doing the right things,” he added.
The cut fell at even-par 144, with 50 of 132 players advancing to the weekend.
What it means: A tightly packed leaderboard with multiple contenders within two shots.
What’s next: Moving day will be crucial on a course that can quickly shift momentum.
Photo – PGTI / Dhruv Sheoran
