Higgo soars to lead, Bhatia out of Sanderson hunt

Akshay Bhatia’s hopes at the Sanderson Farms Championship ended prematurely as he missed the cut after the second round at the Country Club of Jackson in Mississippi.

Bhatia, who started on the 10th tee, posted an even-par 72 in the opening round but struggled to maintain momentum in round two, carding a 1-over 73. His day featured bogeys on the 14th and 16th holes, balanced by birdies on the third and fifth. However, a closing bogey on the eighth, his 17th hole, left him with a 36-hole total of 1-over 145. The cut was set at 4-under par, leaving Bhatia five strokes short of advancing to the weekend.

Turning attention to the leaders, Garrick Higgo took command atop the leaderboard at 13-under par, thanks to rounds of 65-66. The South African, returning from hip surgery, showcased a strong back nine in round two with four birdies and a steady performance that kept him clear of mistakes.

Close behind are Eric Cole and Taylor Montgomery, tied for second at 12-under. Cole posted a 67 in round two, following a round of 10 birdies and a double bogey on day one. Montgomery made a spectacular 9-under effort in round two to climb into contention. Danny Walker sits in fourth place at 11-under.

With only five tournaments remaining in the FedExCup Fall schedule, players are focused on securing their spot in the top 100 to retain full PGA TOUR status. Bhatia will now regroup for upcoming events, while Higgo, Cole, Montgomery, and Walker head into the weekend eager to chase the title at Jackson.