New delhi: Julian Suri fired a second consecutive round of 67 to take a two-shot lead into the weekend at the Hero Indian Open.
The American headed home 12 months ago at DLF Golf and Country Club after posting 76-82 but he was 24 shots better off than that this time around at 10-under 134.
South African George Coetzee finished his round with three birdies to sit at eight under alongside Swede Robert Karlsson, who ended his day with gains on the 17th and 18th.
England's Callum Shinkwin and Australian Scott Hend were at seven under after firing the only bogey free rounds of the week so far.
Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng remained in contention after his second successive three-under 69. The veteran Thai was on six-under 138, four shots off the pace.
Suri is playing just his second event of the season after undergoing surgery on an abdominal hernia but showed he was in fine health in New Delhi, picking up six shots in as many holes from the first to surge clear in the morning session.
"I put the foot down but I had the same mindset I had on the first nine," he said. "I hit it really well the whole day and I just tried to free it up a little bit on the second nine with my putting.
"I hit a lot of good shots and gave myself a ton of chances on the first nine and none of them dropped, particularly with speed and not hitting them hard enough. So, just try to free it up and putt with feel like I normally do."
