CHENNAI, September 9: Ajeetesh Sandhu shot a six-under 66 to take a two-shot lead after the second round of the Chennai Open 2026 Powered by Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL), held at the TNGF Cosmo Golf Course.
The 37-year-old from Chandigarh, who started the day sharing the lead, added eight birdies against two bogeys in the INR 1 crore event to reach 13-under 131 at the halfway stage. His rounds of 65 and 66 put him two strokes clear of overnight co-leader Stepan Danek.
Sandhu, a five-time winner on the DP World PGTI and a former Asian Tour champion, has taken sole control of the tournament heading into the weekend.
Danek and Rashid Khan give chase
Czech golfer Stepan Danek, 29, carded a four-under 68, with six birdies and two bogeys, to sit alone in second place at 11-under 133 after rounds of 65 and 68.
Delhi’s Rashid Khan, who won the Telangana Open in Vikarabad two weeks ago, is third at 10-under 134. His four-under 68 included an eagle on the par-five 18th, four birdies and two bogeys, following an opening 66.
Front nine the tougher test
Sandhu played both nines in three-under but said he particularly enjoyed the front nine, which he played as his second nine of the day, since it carries some of the course’s harder holes.
“The front nine is a little trickier and has a few holes that really demand your attention,” Sandhu said. “I managed to make birdies on a couple of those holes, so that was enjoyable.”
Solid round despite a late bogey
Sandhu felt he struck the ball better than he had in the opening round and found his rhythm earlier in the day. A couple of timely par saves helped him settle before a three-putt bogey on the eighth, his only blemish of note.
“Overall, it was a pretty solid round,” he said. “I found my rhythm early and made a couple of important saves, which helped build momentum. After that, it was fairly smooth sailing. The three-putt bogey on the eighth was disappointing, but there are still two rounds to play.”
First look at Cosmo Golf Course
This is Sandhu’s first tournament at the TNGF Cosmo Golf Course. His only previous appearance in Chennai came during his debut season as a professional.
“I liked the course as soon as I played it during the Pro-Am,” he said. “It suits my eye. It is tree-lined and tricky, so I’m pleased with how I’ve played so far.”
He has also been leaning on the local food to cope with Chennai’s humidity, turning to idlis and dosas through the week.
“I’m a big fan of South Indian food,” he said. “I’ve been having plenty of dosas and idlis, especially at breakfast. Idlis are good fuel for the round, so I’ll continue with that.”
Rest of the leaderboard
Current Race to DP World India Championship leader Saptak Talwar (67-68) climbed from tied sixth to tied fourth at nine-under 135, alongside Noida golfers Gaurav Pratap Singh (69-66) and Amardeep Malik (67-68).
Defending champion N Thangaraja of Sri Lanka followed his opening 69 with a 70 to share 11th place at five-under 139.
Cut and what’s next
The halfway cut fell at even-par 144, with 52 players from the field of 132 advancing to the final two rounds.
The Race to DP World India Championship decides the DP World PGTI’s number one player for the season and sets the top 24 players from the Order of Merit who will qualify for the season-ending DP World India Championship.
