Indian-American golfer Sahith Theegala remains a strong contender at the Canadian Open despite losing his lead in the second round. He shot a 1-under 69, reaching 7-under for the tournament and securing a Tied-13 position, trailing the leader by just three shots. Theegala, after an impressive opening round, faced tougher conditions in the second round but displayed resilience to stay within striking distance of the leaders.
Starting on the front nine, Theegala seemed poised for another good round with birdies at the third and seventh holes. Despite encountering challenges with bogeys on the 10th and 15th holes, he managed to finish strong with a birdie on the 18th hole, signing for a 69 to maintain his contention at 7-under 133 after 36 holes. Positioned at Tied-13, he is well-placed for a strong finish in the upcoming rounds.
Another player with Indian roots, Sudarshan Yellamaraju, also had a successful day, securing a weekend spot by shooting a 4-under 66. Yellamaraju, after an early setback, showcased a composed performance with birdies on multiple holes to reach 5-under overall and a share of 28th place. On the other hand, PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai missed the cut by one shot, despite a solid performance, falling short due to a crucial bogey.
At the top of the leaderboard, PGA Tour rookie Ben James emerged as the surprise leader with a flawless 7-under 63. With Theegala closely trailing the leaders and showing glimpses of his earlier form, the tournament sets the stage for an exciting opportunity for the Indian-American golfer to vie for another PGA Tour title.
