Defending champion Eugenio Chacarra from Spain took the clubhouse lead at eight-under 136 in round two of the US$ 2.55 million Indian Open 2026 with a three-under 69. South Africans Casey Jarvis and MJ Daffue followed closely at seven-under 137 and six-under 138, securing second and third positions, respectively.
Om Prakash Chouhan, former PGTI Order of Merit champion, emerged as the top Indian player after a strong finish in his second round, scoring one-under 71 for a total of even-par 144. Meanwhile, 18-year-old debutant Manoj S. from Bengaluru climbed 46 spots to tie for 41st place at two-over 146 after an impressive comeback with a score of 70 in Round Two.
The day saw a temporary halt in play lasting one hour and 20 minutes due to lightning, leaving 30 players unable to complete round two before play was suspended. Notably, the Indian trio of Kartik Singh, Dhruv Sheoran, and Khalin Joshi found themselves in tied 68th place at five-over 149, just a stroke away from the projected cut.
Om Prakash Chouhan, a 39-year-old with an impressive track record, overcame an early setback to finish as the best-placed Indian after day two, showcasing strong tee and approach shots. Reflecting on his performance, Chouhan highlighted his excellent ball-striking but noted some inconsistency in putting, which affected his overall score.
Manoj S. faced challenges on the back-nine but rallied with four birdies on the front-nine, demonstrating resilience and strategic play. Despite encountering obstacles, Manoj remained focused on his ball-striking and expressed pride in his comeback after a tough previous round.
