Liam Nolan had a strong back nine to climb into contention at the Delhi Challenge in India.
Nolan carded a round of 68 to lie in a share of 16th place on four-under, three shots adrift of a five way tie for the lead which includes local favourites Udayan Mane and Angad Cheema.
The Galway man started on the tenth with a birdie before registering his only bogey of the day on the 12th.
He turned in 35 after a birdie on the 16th but powered to the clubhouse with two birdies in three holes to start his back nine before finishing in style with a closing birdie on the par-5 9th.
The 24-year-old missed the cut in Kolkata last week but is still sixth in the Road to Mallorca Rankings and he now has a chance to consolidate his position in the all important top-20 on the season long standings in the race for the DP World Tour.
Laytown & Bettystown man Alex Maguire has work to do to make his second successive cut despite opening with a round of 71.
Maguire had a rollercoaster day, recovering from two bogeys in five holes with three birdies in four holes to climb into red figures before he double bogeyed the 16th.
The 24-year-old finished strong with back to back closing birdies.
Jesper Sandborg, Jamie Rutherford, Quim Vidal, Mane all made the most of perfect morning conditions in Gurugram, before being joined by Cheema late in the day, with each player signing for seven under par rounds of 65 to lead by one from American Davis Bryant and Frenchman Oihan Guillamoundeguy, who share sixth.
Mane, from India, carded three birdies on the front nine before adding four more without a blemish on the back nine to add his name to those leading after 18 holes, and insists finding the fairway off the tee is crucial on the Jack Nicklaus designed course.
“I played well in Kolkata last week but the errant shots there were a lot more penal than they are here today,” he said. “This golf course is easy on the eye for the tee shots, and I drove it really well today.
“I hit most of the fairways and I was happy to see the driver behaving. I drove it the way I needed to, week-in week-out.”
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