Seasoned Sanjay Kumar carded a solid four-under-68 to grab the halfway lead at the McLeod Russel Tour Championship, the PGTI's year-end event at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club here today.
Lucknow's Sanjay fired a second successive 68 to rise from overnight tied third to the pole position with eight-under-136, while overnight leader Anirban Lahiri of Bangalore returned a one-under-71 after a double bogey on 11th hole to slip to second place, one shot off the lead.
Alipore-based Rahil Gangjee kept local hopes alive as he shot a 68 to end round two in tied third at six-under-138.
Gangjee's second round was punctuated by five birdies and a bogey and included two birdie putts from 20 to 25 feet.
Abhinav Lohan of Faridabad joined Rahil in tied third after signing a card of 70 that featured four birdies and two bogeys.
Sanjay's 15-feet birdie putt on the first hole laid the platform for him on day two as the 42-year-old, a winner of six professional titles, consolidated thereafter with birdies on the fifth and 12th, sinking putts from eight to 12 feet.
His only bogey came on the 13th where he missed a chip-putt.
Sanjay, who turned professional back in 1987, more than made up for his lapse on the 13th with birdie putts from a range of six to eight feet on the 15th and 17th.
"I hit it better today as compared to round one. I also landed it close on several occasions. The birdie on the opening hole got me in rhythm. I capitalised on the good start from there on. Importantly, I just dropped one bogey today. I'm not looking at a number for round three but will look to hit maximum fairways," Sanjay, currently placed 23rd on the Rolex Order of Merit, said.
