Angel Hidalgo, Joost Luiten and Adrian Meronk reached eight-under to share the clubhouse lead at the DP World India Championship as the tournament continued its recovery from Thursday’s lengthy weather interruption.
Nearly five hours were lost to thunderstorms on the opening day, forcing several players into demanding schedules at Delhi Golf Club on Friday. Luiten completed 34 holes, while Hidalgo and Meronk each negotiated 31 in favourable conditions.
All three posted matching totals of 136. Luiten and Hidalgo recorded successive 68s, while Meronk completed his opening round before adding a 69.
Belgium’s Thomas Detry joined the leading group at eight-under after making three birdies across his first six holes of round two. He remained on the course when play ended, with more than half the field still to finish and 12 players yet to begin their second rounds.
Eugenio Chacarra was another stroke back at seven-under through five holes. The Spaniard entered the week with an opportunity to move to the top of the Race to Dubai standings.
Meronk briefly held the outright lead after collecting four birdies during his second round. A bogey at the ninth, his closing hole, returned him to eight-under. The Pole arrived in Delhi with considerable momentum following his Alfred Dunhill Links Championship victory.
Luiten also reached nine-under after three consecutive birdies from the 13th, followed by further gains at the 18th and second. Fatigue contributed to a double bogey on his penultimate hole, but he responded immediately by converting a 14-foot birdie putt at the last.
Hidalgo mixed five birdies with a double bogey before closing with another gain. His recent runner-up finish at the FedEx Open de France has already secured his place in the DP World Tour Play-Offs.
Om Prakash Chouhan remained the leading Indian. After opening with a 68, he parred his first two second-round holes to sit provisionally tied 17th.
Anirban Lahiri completed rounds of 70 and 73 to occupy tied 46th. Saptak Talwar shared that position at one-under through 25 holes.
Shiv Kapur finished at level par following successive 72s, while Karandeep Kochhar was also even par with two holes remaining.
Second-round play will resume at 6.45am on Saturday. The third round, using a two-tee start, will begin no earlier than 12.30pm.
Photo – DPWT
