Anshul Mishra shines with 69 to lead Indian challenge at AAC

India’s Anshul Mishra delivered a superb second-round 69 (-3) to climb into tied 13th place at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship being played on the Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club, Dubai.

Making his debut appearance, the 17-year-old from Kolkata showed maturity well beyond his years, carding four birdies and a single bogey. His birdies came on the third, fourth, 10th, and 18th holes, while his only dropped shot arrived on the par-four 16th. Mishra, who recently turned 17, has carried his strong form from the domestic circuit into one of the world’s most prestigious amateur events.

Three of the five Indians in the field advanced to the weekend rounds. Raghav Gulati, who is based in Dubai, shot a solid 70 (-2) to move to one-under overall (T-19), while Rakshit Dahiya matched his opening round with another even-par 72, placing him T-23. Ranveer Mitroo improved with a 71 (-1) to sit T-28 at +1, while Harman Sachdeva missed the cut despite a much-improved 73 after an opening 79.

At the top of the leaderboard, Vietnam’s Khanh Hung Le, Japan’s Rintaro Nakano, and Australia’s Harry Takis shared the lead at 11-under-par. Nakano, last year’s 36-hole leader, continued his fine form with a second straight eagle on the 13th, while Takis fired a bogey-free 66 to join the group.

With the cut set at six-over, Mishra’s consistency and Gulati’s local knowledge keep Indian hopes alive heading into the crucial weekend rounds.

Photo – Anshul Mishra/AAC

Story – Anand Krishnaswamy from Dubai