On winning run, Anahat Singh underlines promise once again

The 17-year-old has won 2 tournaments in a row but is well aware of challenges that lie ahead

- Rutvick Mehta

best round among them after he shot a 69. "This is a tough course, but fun. Me and my caddie were talking about playing it like a fun course. Just keep patient, and keep smiling. That was good," said Nakajima, who had constantly switched the lead with Chacarra — both touching 6-under — before the course slightly reined them in.

Chacarra's was a more gritty round despite four birdies in his first six holes after starting on the back nine. A double bogey on the tough 17th, his eighth hole after starting on the 10th, was followed by two more birdies only for back-to-back bogeys and some good par saves keeping him atop the leaderboard.

The Spaniard, a big talent who didn't chase a card on the PGA Tour or DP World Tour but joined LIV Golf, only to lose his contract last year, has taken the Asian Tour route to chasing success. A picture of consistency this year — he was T5 here in the International Series India event in January-February. Staying patient is his mantra: "We were just hitting wedges and they were skipping sometimes six, seven steps. It was tough out there."

Only 12 Indians made the cut, Gaganjeet Bhullar the best at T20. He is one-over par after a 73. Shubhankar Sharma (75+74) was briefly on the cut line — cut was at 6-over — but made it. He is T52 at five-over after birdie on the 18th hole.

Leaderboard: T-1 4-under par (140): K Nakajima (JPN) (74+66), E Chacarra (ESP) (70+70).