Akshay Sharma, Dhruv Sheoran In Joint Lead At DP World Players Championship

Akshay Sharma and Dhruv Sheoran held a joint lead at nine-under 135 after 36 holes of the ₹1 crore DP World Players Championship at the Classic Golf & Country Club on Wednesday.

The event, part of the Professional Golf Tour of India, witnessed a strong second round with both Indians showcasing contrasting yet effective styles of play.

The 35-year-old Sharma, a two-time PGTI winner , fired the best round of the day — seven-under 65 — to surge from tied 14th to the top. His round included nine birdies and two bogeys , underlining his sharp ball-striking and confident putting. A crucial stretch around the turn, featuring a birdie on the ninth, a chip-in on the 10th and a long putt on the 11th, helped him build momentum and stay in control.

Sheoran, 31, a tour winner in 2024 , returned a steady six-under 66 to match Sharma’s overall score. His round was highlighted by a brilliant eagle on the par-5 14th , set up by a powerful drive and a precise approach that left him with a short putt. Known for his consistency, Sheoran mixed aggression with control to stay among the leaders.

Close behind, Japan’s Taiga Tanaka, India’s Sunit Chowrasia and Nepal’s Sukra Bahadur Rai were tied third at eight-under 136 , just one shot off the pace.

Overnight leaders Harman Sachdeva and Jamal Hossain slipped into a seven-way tie for sixth at seven-under 137 , alongside a tightly packed chasing group.

The cut fell at even-par 144 , with 50 of 132 players progressing to the final two rounds, setting up an intense battle for the title.