Akshay Bhatia put collectively one other sturdy spherical at Detroit Golf Membership to keep up his lead on the Rocket Mortgage Traditional. He signed for a bogey-free 5-under 67 to sit down at 13-under whole.
The 2-time PGA Tour winner leads the morning wave by two pictures as Taylor Montgomery and Troy Merritt sit at 11-under. Merritt fired off an 8-under 64 to maneuver up 38 spots.
Bhatia didn’t make as many birdies however saved his scorecard clear for the second straight day. He started his day on the again 9 and recorded three birdies. Two extra birdies got here on the 1st and seventh gap.
One of many wildest moments of the morning got here on the par-5 seventeenth when his ball rolled right into a drain on the course.
“By no means seen it. Guidelines official’s by no means seen it, so it was type of one in 1,000,000 probability that ball goes in that small gap in that drain, so it was fairly humorous,” Bhatia mentioned. “That’s in all probability the craziest [lost ball].”
Detroit Golf Membership and left-handed golfers do typically not combine properly, however Bhatia’s recreation is almost good for this observe.
“It’s a ball-striker’s golf course, loads of wedges,” he mentioned. “That’s my sturdy swimsuit, particularly inside, I might say, 150 yards, so I believe that’s why I like this golf course. I don’t assume there’s a distinction lefty or righty.”
He at present leads the sphere in strokes gained whole at +10.372 and in strokes gained strategy to the inexperienced, choosing up +5.666. The 22-year-old has additionally solely missed three greens up to now two days.
This week will probably be about who can take advantage of birdies and keep away from expensive errors. After such a powerful spherical, Bhatia constructed off that momentum.
“I really feel like when you realize you’re enjoying properly, then you definately really feel like you possibly can hit all of the golf pictures that you must hit to make a superb golf rating,” Bhatia mentioned. “I believe the distinction in conditions perhaps it’s a bit tougher, however out right here, you possibly can simply make 5, six, seven birdies.”
To this point, he has 11 birdies, one eagle and 24 pars on the week. If the No. 29 ranked golfer avoids catastrophe and may hold down the pedal, his third profession win and second after the Texas Open is perhaps inside attain.
With the afternoon teams left to play, Bhatia should wait and see if anybody matches his rating and who will probably be a part of him for Saturday’s ultimate tee time.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By. For extra golf protection, comply with us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. You can even comply with her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.
