From correspondents in Karnataka, India, 07:31 PM IST

Gagan Verma shot seven birdies for four-under 68 and took a two-shot lead at the half-way stage of the LG Southern India Amateur golf at the Eagleton Golf Resort here Wednesday.

Gagan, who had opened with an even par round of 72, has a two-day total of 4-under 140.

H.S. Kang is placed second along with overnight leader Vikram Rana at 142.

Bangalore boy Chikkarangappa shot a nicely compiled 69 to move into fourth position. Second ranked Manav Das also signed a card of 69 to be tied for the fifth spot along with Abhinav Lohan at 144.

Gagan began from the 10th and tasted success on the 11th when he struck a birdie. But he lost one stroke on the 15th. However birdies on the 16th and 18th resurrected his round.

Keeping up the tempo, Gagan opened with a birdie on his back nine. Gagan saved strokes consecutively in the third, fourth and the sixth before committing a mistake on the seventh for a bogey.

'I am happy about my round although I could have done much better without those bogeys,' Gagan said.

Top scores after 36 holes: 140 Gagan Verma (72, 68); 142 H.S. Kang (74, 68), Vikram Rana (70, 72); 143 Chikkarangappa (74, 69); 144 Manav Das (75, 69), Abhinav Lohan (72, 72); 146 Saurav Bahuguna (72, 74); 147 S.K. Lakra (74, 73), Jasjeet Singh (72, 75), Rashid Khan (71, 76); 148 Rahul Bakshi (78, 70), Karan Vasudeva (74, 74), Samresh Sardar (74, 74), Karan Singh (73, 75), Arshdeep Tiwana (71, 77), Tarun Ghogale (71, 77)

(Staff Writer, © IANS)