Lucerne, June 6: Indian golfer Veer Ahlawat has made headlines at the Swiss Challenge held in Switzerland, achieving a remarkable halfway lead. Competing on invitation, Ahlawat scored an impressive 10-under-par 61 in the second round, breaking the course record and tying for the top spot with England’s Matthew Southgate.
Ahlawat showcased his exceptional form with a bogey-free round at Golf Semapach. After two rounds, his total score stands at 12-under-par, placing him one shot ahead of nearest rivals George Bluer and Matthieu Decotignies-Lafon as they head into the weekend.
Recognized as one of India’s rising golf stars, 2024 has been a memorable year for Ahlawat. He finished as the runner-up at the Hero Indian Open and subsequently claimed the DP World PGTI Order of Merit title.
In the second round, Ahlawat displayed aggressive play from the start. He made consecutive birdies on the second, third, and fourth holes. Another birdie on the seventh hole brought him to 4-under-par at the turn. The excitement continued on the back nine, where he started a streak of six birdies from the 12th hole. This impressive run allowed him to take the lead in the field, finishing the round with a par on the 18th hole and recording a historic score of 61.
After the round, Ahlawat expressed his satisfaction with his performance, noting, “I had excellent control over the ball throughout the day and capitalized on most birdie opportunities. My aggressive driving strategy allowed for shorter and easier approach shots on the greens, which helped with scoring.”
The Indian player made it clear that he intends to maintain this strategy in the final two rounds.
Meanwhile, Matthew Southgate also achieved a bogey-free 64, sharing the lead. However, other Indian players, Arjun Prasad and Saptak Talwar, were unable to make the cut, finishing behind the cut mark.
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