Gaganjeet Bhullar makes first cut since restart at Italian Open golf
Bhullar made his first cut in five events while SSP Chawrasia could not join his compatriot for the weekend rounds in Italy.
Indian golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar made it through to the weekend rounds with a stellar seven-under score at the Italian Open on Saturday.
This is the first time that Bhullar has made the cut in five events since the European Tour resumed after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bhullar had carded a four-under 68 in the opening round on Thursday at the Chervo Golf Club in Brescia, Italy. It was his first round in the 60s since the Tour resumed and only his second of the season since the Saudi International in February.
The Indian golfer followed it up with an equally-impressive three-under 69 in the second round on Friday.
The 32-year-old Bhullar began with a birdie on the par-4 first but negated that with a bogey on the eighth to end the front nine on even-par. However, he was on song in the second part of the course.
Bhullar began with two birdies – on the par-4 10th and 13th – in the first four holes. Though he had a bogey on the 15th, the Indian golfer ended with consecutive birdies on the par-4 16th and par-3 17th.
He was eventually placed tied-31 with 13 other golfers when the cut came in on Saturday. The second round had been suspended overnight on Friday due to rain.
However, fellow Indian golfer SSP Chawrasia could not join Bhullar for the weekend.
The Rio 2016 Olympian, who finished tied-51st at the Scottish Championship last week, shot an even-par 144 on aggregate, missing the cut by four shots. He finished tied-94.
Canter leads the way
Englishman Laurie Canter held the lead going into the weekend at the Italian Open with a 16-under after two rounds. Canter had shot a bogey-free opening round and only had one bogey, on the par-5 11th, in the second round.
Canter’s compatriot Ross McGowan kept him honest with a bogey-free second round to be placed second just two shots behind at 14-under.
South African Dean Burmester was a further two shots behind in third with 12-under while Dane Joachim Hansen is fast catching up with 11-under after two rounds.