Golf – Veer Ganapathy Takes Commanding Lead After Strong Second Round
Golf – Veer Ganapathy delivered another composed performance to move into a clear lead after the second round of the IGPL Invitational 2026 Mauritius, held at the scenic Anahita Golf Course. The young Bengaluru golfer built on his opening-day momentum with a steady and confident display, positioning himself strongly ahead of the final round.
Ganapathy capitalises on back-nine brilliance
Starting the day as a joint leader, Ganapathy maintained control through a steady front nine before shifting gears in the latter half of his round. The 18-year-old left-hander produced three crucial birdies on the back nine, including key conversions on the 16th and 18th holes. His round of 3-under 69 pushed his overall score to 8-under after 36 holes, giving him a two-shot cushion at the top.
His performance stood out particularly because of the challenging conditions at the course, where wind and tricky greens have tested even experienced players.
Baisoya slips at the final hurdle
Sachin Baisoya, who shared the lead overnight, remained in contention throughout most of the second round. However, a costly bogey on the final hole proved decisive. Playing alongside Ganapathy, Baisoya saw his rival secure a birdie on the same hole, resulting in a two-shot swing that shifted the leaderboard.
Baisoya finished the round at 6-under, now trailing by two shots. Despite the setback, his consistent play keeps him firmly in the title race heading into the final day.
Tight competition for third place
A group of three players is currently tied for third place at 3-under overall. Aryan Roopa Anand, Ridhima Dilawari, and Milind Soni have all remained within striking distance, though each faced challenges during their rounds.
Anand, in particular, looked poised to climb higher but suffered a triple bogey on the closing hole, which significantly impacted his score. Dilawari continues to lead the women’s field, while Soni is aiming for a breakthrough finish among the top performers.
Experienced names remain in contention
Further down the leaderboard, several seasoned players are still within reach, although they remain outside the top 10. Notable names such as Pukhraj Gill, SSP Chawrasia, and Gaurav Ghei are tied just outside the leading group. Others, including Shiv Kapur and Karandeep Kochhar, will need strong final rounds to climb into contention.
Only 12 players have managed to stay under par after two rounds, highlighting the difficulty of the course and the demanding playing conditions.
Team standings see close battle
In the team competition, RVR Delhi has moved into the top position with a combined score of 7-under after two rounds. Phoenix Hyderabad and Atri Mumbai are close behind, trailing by just one shot, setting up a competitive finish in the team category as well.
Local player stages remarkable comeback
Among the local participants, Pierre Pellegrin delivered one of the most impressive turnarounds of the tournament. After struggling with an opening round of 80, he bounced back with a remarkable 8-under 64 in the second round. This dramatic improvement lifted him significantly up the standings to an even-par total.
His performance underlined the unpredictable nature of the course, where recovery is possible with a strong round.
Final round set for intense finish
With just one round remaining, Ganapathy stands on the brink of his first professional victory. Having finished runner-up twice last season, he now has a valuable opportunity to secure a breakthrough win.
He credited his putting performance as a key factor in his success so far, particularly on the back nine. Meanwhile, Baisoya, known for his consistency, remains a strong contender and will look to apply pressure early in the final round.
Given the challenging course conditions and tight competition behind the leader, the final day promises a closely fought contest where even small errors could prove decisive.