Nakajima joint leader at halfway in Hero Indian Open defence
Keita Nakajima of Japan. Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images
Japan’s Keita Nakajima remained on course to retain his Hero Indian Open title after carding a best of the week 66 to share the lead with Spain’s Eugenio Chacarra at DLF Golf and Country Club.
On a day when just 11 players broke par compared to 29 on day one, Nakajima improved on his opening round by eight shots with a six-under-par effort in New Delhi.
He leads by two shots on four-under alongside Chacarra, who shot 70 in just his ninth DP World Tour start.
Just 14 players are under par at halfway but Portmarnock’s Conor Purcell missed the six-over-par cut by five strokes as he added an 80 to his opening 75.
“It was a great day and also it was so fun,” said Nakajima, who went out in a blistering seven-under 29. “I have two more rounds and two more days to look forward to.
“My mindset changed today because this is a tough course but a fun course. Myself and my caddie were talking about playing it like a fun course. I just tried to keep patient, and keep smiling. That was good.
“The key was to keep patient. It's good for this golf course and I will try to do the same thing, two more days.
“I feel a little nervous about the weekend because I want to defend my title, but I will try playing with a smile and also have fun. That'd be great.”
He dropped his first shot at the 11th but bounced back with a birdie at the 13th before bogeying the par four 14th.
Another birdie at the 15th saw him regain his position at the top of the leaderboard but a closing bogey meant he had to settle for a share of the lead with former LIV Golf star Chacarra, who made six birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey in his 70.
Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat posted a one-under-par 71 for the second consecutive day to move into third position alongside Dutchman Joost Luiten, Italian Andrea Pavan, England’s Matthew Jordan and Swede Jens Dantorp.
