Martin Couvra will take a one stroke lead into the weekend of the Delhi Challenge after signing for a five under par round of 67 on day two at Classic Golf & Country Club.
The Frenchman, who started the day tied at the top, moved into the outright lead after carding five birdies without a bogey to move to 12 under par for the week, one clear of Englishman James Allan.
The 20-year-old is no stranger to being out in front having won the Challenge de España as an amateur in 2023. That win saw him become only the seventh amateur in history to win on the Challenge Tour.
Couvra is hoping to draw on that experience over the next two days as he goes in search of a second victory and a first since turning professional.
“I know that I can win,” he said. “I just need to keep great body language, keep a great attitude and just play my game and we’ll see at the end of the week.
“The experience of last year was amazing for me. I’m finding out that it’s becoming easier to play now that I know the challenges that comes with playing on tour and how each tournament is different.”
Couvra has started the 2024 Road to Mallorca in good form, finishing tied sixth in the Bain’s Whisky Cape Town Open before finishing solo fourth two weeks later in the NMB Championship.
Those results see Couvra sit tenth on the Road to Mallorca Rankings ahead of back-to-back events in India, and in only the fifth event of the season, he’s pleased with where his game is at.
“My game is in really good shape and it’s good to play like this on this course,” he added. “With my game feeling as it does, it’s good to make the most of it and play well when it matters.
“I’m happy to be first on the leaderboard but I have two rounds to go, so I need to keep patient and just enjoy it.”
Scotland’s Euan Walker recorded seven birdies without a bogey, including three in his final three holes, to move into a share of third alongside Frenchman Andoni Etchenique on ten under par.
Six players are one shot further back on nine under par, including Finland’s Oliver Lindell, Irishman Conor Purcell, Frenchman Oihan Guillamoundeguy and English trio John Parry, Jack Senior and Chris Paisley.
Round three gets under way at 8:00am local time, with Couvra teeing it up alongside Allan and Walker at 11:39am.
