Pune, Nov 25: Rahul Bajaj put on a spirited display to charge ahead of the rest of the field after the second round of the LG Western India Amateur at the par-71 Poona Club Golf Course.

Bajaj returned a card of four-under 67, the best round of the day. At six-under 136 for the tournament, he is four shots clear of second-placed Rashid Khan. Rashid carded a round of even-par 71 to take second place.

In third place is Bangalore's Abhishek Jha who leapt up the leaderboard with a round of three-under 68. Local boy Aditya Bhandarkar, along with Arshdeep Tiwana, is tied for fourth place. Bhandarkar and Chikka followed up his first-round 73 with another 73 while Tiwana carded a round of 75.

But the day belonged to 23-year-old Bajaj who started the second round tied for the lead but has now opened up a substantial gap over Rashid. The Oil India player made as many as seven birdies in his round and his birdie count at the halfway stage stands at 13.

The cut was declared at 16-over 158 and 42 amateurs made it to the final two rounds.(IANS)