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Naman Dawar, looking for his first career victory as a pro, moved into a two-shot lead with a brilliant seven-under 63 at the par-70 Golmuri Golf Club, which gave him a two-day total of 10-under 132 at the midway stage of the Rs 20 lakh Tata Open in the Steel City, Jamshedpur, on Wednesday.
He leads veteran and two-time Indian Open champion Ali Sher (66 at Beldih) by two shots.
The 26-year-opld Delhi pro, who has never really fulfilled his potential, had a first round of three-under 69 with an ace on the first hole at Beldih. On the second day, he eagled the seventh and had five other birdies in a bogey-free round of seven-under 63.
"It was a very satisfying round during which I struck the ball well and the putting too was good," Dawar, whose previous best as a pro has been in an event in Dhaka about four years ago.
Dawar bridied the fifth, 11th, 14th, 16th and 17th besides the eagle on the seventh.
A long hitter, he has often been wanting with his accuracy and putting, but today was his day and he made ample use of that.
Two shots behind Dawar was veteran Ali Sher, who added a 66 from Beldih, the best on that course today, to move to eight-under 134 for 36 holes.
It is more than five years since Ali Sher won. The 1991 and 1993 Indian Open champion said, "I hit well after a long time and I am looking forward to challenging for the title over next two days." Ali Sher had a two-under 68 at Golmuri on the first day.
In third place was Digvijay Singh, who found his touch with a six-under 64 to go to seven-under for two days. He had birdies on the first, second, fourth, tenth, 16th and 18th and an eagle on seventh besides bogeys on third and 13th.
Defending champion S S P Chowrasia came back into reckoning after a modest start. He had a bogey-free round with birdies on first, fourth, seventh, 11th, 12th and 16th. He had a par round on first day. He shared the fourth place with Harinder Gupta who had a three-under 67 at Golmuri for a total of six-under 136. Also in a share of fourth place was S Madaiah with rounds of 68 and 68 on both days. He played at Beldih in second round.
Rahil Gangjee, Asia No. 18 and winner of Volkswagen Masters in 2004, came back into the picture with a six-under 66, the best of the day at Beldih along with Ali Sher. He is now five-under after his one-over 71 at Golmuri on first day.
"It is good to be back in the reckoning," said Gangjee.
Rafick Ali Mollah, the overnight leader, slipped with two-over 72 at Golmuri and he is now four-under 138 for two days and in tied eight with Anura Rohana and Rohti Chaudhary.