Okayama, Japan, 29-05-2021

Rahil Gangjee fires on all cylinders with a 66 in Round 2 to be tied third at the Gateway To The Open Mizuno Open in Japan

Rahil Gangjee (69-66) came out firing on all cylinders with a six-under-66 on an extremely windy day in round two, the penultimate round, of the Gateway To The Open Mizuno Open on the Japan Golf Tour.

The 42-year-old Rahil Gangjee, a former winner on the Japan Golf Tour and Asian Tour, thus moved up 25 spots to tied third at a total of nine-under-135, four shots off the lead. He came up with seven birdies and a bogey in round two including birdies on the last two holes. He sank some long putts and came close to making an eagle on the last where he nearly holed his bunker shot.

Filipino Juvic Pagunsan leads the field by three shots at 13-under-131. Katsumasa Miyamoto of Japan is in second place at 10-under-134. Gangjee shares the third spot with Dylan Perry of Australia.

The event offers 4 spots at The Open.

Gangjee is coming off a good week at the Golf Partner Pro-Am Tournament where he recorded a season-best tied 11th finish on the Japan Golf Tour. He is currently placed 61st on the money list in Japan.

Rahil, lying tied 28th at the end of round one, picked up two birdies on his first six holes. He then fired a brilliant five-iron tee shot into the howling wind which stopped two feet from the pin giving him a tap-in birdie. On the ninth he landed his approach within eight feet of the flag to set up another birdie.

After making bogey on the 10th, Gangjee in his own words, sank a rollercoaster 10 feet downhill putt for birdie on the 11th. The Kolkata-based pro signed off on a high with birdies on the last two holes as he drained a 15-footer on the 17th and then almost found the hole with his bunker shot for an eagle on the 18th where he finally tapped-in for a birdie.  

Rahil said, "It was my short-game that really clicked today. Even though the tee shots could've been a little better. This is the kind of course where you need to pick a spot and place the ball. That's what I'll look to do in the final round."

Shubhankar Sharma (70-69) was tied 42nd at three-under-139 after Round 2 of Made in Himmerland on the European Tour being played in Denmark.