Sri Lanka's Mithun Perera and Vikrant Chopra of Noida today made major gains in round two to move into joint lead with N Thangaraja in the Chennai Open golf championship 2018 here. Perera and Vikrant Chopra fired scores of seven-under-63 and five-under-65 respectively to move into the joint lead with the overnight leader, Sri Lanka's Thangaraja (70) at nine-under-131. Defending champion Mukesh Kumar of Mhow posted a four-under-66 to lie one shot off the lead in fourth place at eight-under-132. Perera (68-63), who was tied 12th, seven shots behind the leader, after round one, worked his way up to the top with the day's best score, a flawless round that featured seven birdies. The Colombo-based professional produced his best shot of the day on the 10th when his approach from 140 yards landed inches from the pin. His birdies on the 11th and 14th were a result of two 15-feet conversions. "The good birdie putts at the start gave me a lot of confidence as prior to this week I had struggled with my putting," Perera, an Asian Tour regular, said. Chopra (66-65), who was overnight tied third and five off the lead, came into contention with a classy effort of 65 today. Thangaraja (61-70), who had shot a course record equalling 61 for a three-shot lead in round one, conceded his sole lead after posting a quiet 70. Mukesh Kumar carded a second straight 66 to be placed tied fourth at eight-under-132, one shot ahead of Delhi's Shamim Khan (69) and Chandigarh's Sujjan Singh (66), both of whom occupied tied fifth. The only Tamil Nadu-based golfer to make the cut was rookie Shivnaren Srinivasan (70-69). Chennai-based Srinivasan was tied 25th at one-under-139. Fifty-eight professionals made the cut that fell at three-over-143. Mumbai's Anil Bajrang Mane, who made a hole-in-one on the 17th during his second round of 71, made the cut by one shot as he totalled three-over-143.
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