Dubai-born golfer Rayhan Thomas delivered an impressive performance, carding a five-under-par 67 in the second round, propelling him to a joint third position in the 72-hole KGiSL Presents Coimbatore Open on the PGTI at the Coimbatore Golf Club course.
After his initial round of 70, the 24-year-old, previously affiliated with Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club and a student at CH3 at The Els Club, Dubai, started strong with birdies on holes 10, 13, and 15, finishing the back nine with a score of 33. He continued his momentum with additional birdies on holes 2 and 4, maintaining pars on the remaining holes, ending the front nine with a 34 and a total of seven under par at the midway point on the 6,540-yard, par-72 course.
"It's been an incredibly busy day," Rayhan shared with Khaleej Times. "It's wonderful to have family and friends here supporting me. However, it's a long day starting with an early tee time at 8.15 am, requiring both physical and mental preparation, not to mention the activities post-round."
He highlighted a significant 30-foot par save on the 5th hole, which was crucial for maintaining his momentum. Despite the weather being somewhat challenging, with forecasts of wind that didn't materialize, Rayhan was pleased with his performance, noting, "Five birdies and no dropped shots make for a good scorecard. I'm in a strong position halfway through the tournament."
Rayhan plans to maintain his aggressive strategy in the upcoming round, aiming to position himself for a potential win on Saturday. "It will be exciting to play in the final group with the leaders, giving me a clear view of what I'm competing against," he added.
Akshay Sharma leads the tournament at 10 under par, with rounds of 69 and 65, while Manu Gandas is in second place at eight under par, also with a second-round score of 65. The tournament boasts a prize fund of ₹1 Crore (AED 437,488), and the PGTI, sponsored by Tata Steel, has been the governing body for professional golf in India since its establishment in 2006.
Thomas is scheduled to tee off in the third round at 9.40 am local time, playing in the final group alongside Sharma and Gandas.
