Akshay Bhatia put collectively one other sturdy spherical at Detroit Golf Membership to take care of his lead on the Rocket Mortgage Traditional. He signed for a bogey-free 5-under 67 to sit down at 13-under complete.
The 2-time PGA Tour winner leads the morning wave by two photographs 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 one million probability that ball goes in that small gap in that drain, so it was fairly humorous,” Bhatia mentioned. “That’s most likely the craziest [lost ball].”
Detroit Golf Membership and left-handed golfers do typically not combine effectively, however Bhatia’s sport is sort of good for this monitor.
“It’s a ball-striker’s golf course, plenty of wedges,” he mentioned. “That’s my sturdy go well with, 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 the moment leads the sector in strokes gained complete at +10.372 and in strokes gained strategy to the inexperienced, selecting up +5.666. The 22-year-old has additionally solely missed three greens previously two days.
This week shall be about who can take advantage of birdies and keep away from pricey errors. After such a powerful spherical, Bhatia constructed off that momentum.
“I really feel like when you’re taking part in effectively, then you definately really feel like you may hit all of the golf photographs that you’ll want to hit to make a superb golf rating,” Bhatia mentioned. “I believe the distinction in conditions possibly it’s just a little tougher, however out right here, you may simply make 5, six, seven birdies.”
To date, he has 11 birdies, one eagle and 24 pars on the week. If the No. 29 ranked golfer avoids catastrophe and may preserve down the pedal, his third profession win and second after the Texas Open may be inside attain.
With the afternoon teams left to play, Bhatia should wait and see if anybody matches his rating and who will probably be part of him for Saturday’s remaining tee time.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By way of. For extra golf protection, comply with us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. It’s also possible to comply with her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.
