Keita Nakajima is in prime position to defend his Hero Indian Open crown, sharing the lead with Eugenio Chacarra heading into the weekend at DLF Golf and Country Club in New Delhi.
The halfway stage brought drama, heartbreak, and standout performances—with Worldwide Golf columnist Rayhan Thomas narrowly missing the cut after a bogey at the par-five 18th saw him fall one shot short of making it into the weekend.
At the top, Nakajima bounced back in style from an opening 74 with a stunning second-round 66, eight strokes better than Thursday’s effort. Now four under par, the Japanese star joins Chacarra at the summit on a course where just 14 players finished under par after two rounds.
Defending Champ Looking Strong
Nakajima, who captured his maiden DP World Tour title at this event last year, made an electric start with a birdie at the first, followed by five in a row from the 3rd to the 7th. A gain at the 9th saw him turn in just 29 shots. Though he dropped shots at 11, 14, and 18, further birdies on 13 and 15 kept him tied for the lead.
“It was a great day and fun,” said Nakajima. “The key was to stay patient and keep smiling. This is a tough course, but I’m looking forward to the weekend.”
Chacarra On Plan
Chacarra carded a composed 70 featuring six birdies, two bogeys, and a double. Despite the afternoon wind adding to the challenge, the Spaniard held firm in just his ninth DP World Tour appearance.
“You’ve got to stick to your plan,” said Chacarra. “This course punishes mistakes. I’m happy with how I played and excited for the weekend.”
Strong Mind Strong Game
Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat sits one shot back after a second consecutive 71, tied with Joost Luiten, Andrea Pavan, Matthew Jordan, and Jens Dantorp.
“You really can’t lose your head on this course,” said Aphibarnrat. “It’s all about staying focused and mentally strong.”
With conditions set to toughen, going low is going to be a challenge for the chancing players.
