Veteran Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts set the early pace on the opening day of the 58th Hero Indian Open at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon on Thursday. Image courtesy Getty Images.
By Rahul Banerji
International winner Ajeetesh Sandhu led the home challenge on day one of the $2.25 million 58th Hero Indian Open at the DLGF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon on Thursday, tied for fourth place one shot behind a three-way deadlock at the top.
The Chandigarh golfer balanced six birdies against three dropped shots to bring in a 3 under par 69, a stroke behind England’s Marcus Armitage, Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and Marcus Kinhult of Sweden who all carded 4 under 68s on a tricky DLF track.
While Colsaerts and Kinhult teed off in the morning, Armitage was amongst the last to finish and could have been two ahead but a closing bogey. Incidentally, none of the three have won on the DP World Tour in the last four years.
Sandhu (69), who also played in the morning, and Veer Ahlawat (70, T10), who tied for second last year, were the best-placed Indians with five others in shared 30th place.
Two-time Hero Indian Open winner Shiv Shankar Prasad Chawrasia, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Shiv Kapur, Om Prakash Chouhan and the Dubai-based Rayhan Thomas shot 72s on a day when level par was a good score.
Bouncing back
Chawrasia, the last Indian to win the Hero Indian Open back in 2017, was 3 over after the first eight holes but produced a great fightback with two sets of back-to-back birdies with a bogey in between before closing out for par.
Colsaerts and Armitage had four birdies each on the front nine and overall had seven birdies against three dropped shots while Kinhult had five birdies against one bogey.
Sandhu, also with four birdies, found six in all and gave back three bogeys, while Ahlawat, playing on his home course, started on the back nine and had five birdies and three bogeys.
Sandhu was stoic about his round. “I wouldn’t say anything was great today but I think everything was above average.
“I hit a lot of fairways and greens and putted well. Just kept my head on my shoulders through the day and just kept plugging along.
Marcus Kinhult of Sweden was another in the 138-strong field to make use of relatively benign morning conditions on Thursday. Image courtesy Getty Images.
Special feeling
“The Hero Indian Open is the biggest event probably that I have played. Every time you tee it up, especially this being our national open, is always a great feeling competing in this. Hopefully, one day I get to lift the trophy.”
Armitage said later, “Teeing off in the afternoon, it’s pretty hot out there. I really like the golf course. It’s different. You’ve got to play some great golf to show a good score and I put in fantastic today. We were really cool to get some success around here.”
Added Colsaerts, “It went great today. It’s a difficult golf course. So, anyone who will shoot under-par today is going to be extremely happy.
“The rough is high this year, the greens are firmer. It’s a little bit like a mini US Open. It’s a really hard course.
“The finishing hole is really nice. Visually, the 16, is an amazing par 3, there’s a couple of great holes on the front.
“I don’t think 17 is going to be of everyone’s taste because you don’t really see anything, it’s big elevation but I think all in all it’s a golf course that if you play good golf you’re going to enjoy playing.”
Noted Kinhult, “I got off to great start with three birdies in the first four holes.
“Then it got bit scrappy around the turn. I hit some bad shots but scrambled well. And then just played well towards the end. Gave myself some chances and yeah, happy with the 68. “
Also read: Past champs and season’s winners pack Hero Indian Open field
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