Avani shares opening day WATC lead, Jaglan T9 in Melbourne

By Rahul Banerji

Two-time national champion and Queen Sirikit Cup winner Avani Prashanth held a share of the overnight lead after the first day of the Espirito Santo Trophy individual event in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

With a bogey-free 4 under par 68, Avani was alongside Ireland’s Sara Byrne and Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio of Spain at the par-72 Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

Avani’s score in the first round of the World Amateur Team Championship was built around a steady performance and studded with four birdies, two on either side of the turn.

The top-finishing amateur at the recent Hero Indian Open where she tied for fifth place, first picked up shots on holes five and six, and then added two more at the very end to close out the day.

“Couldn’t have asked for more and this sets me up well for Abu Dhabi,” she had said before leaving on Sunday night for the WATC.

Of the two other Indians in the fray, Mannat Brar was tied for 30^th place on level par 72 with two early birdies and as many dropped shots later in the round, while Nishna Patel was tied 66^th on 3 over 75 in 108-strong entry list.

Going well

In the team event, India were in shared fourth place along with South Korea and Germany on 4 under totals.

Canada and Spain were tied for first and Ireland held sole possession of third place. The two best scores for each team count towards the total score from the 36 teams in the field.

The biennial World Amateur Team Championships are conducted by the International Golf Federation, which comprises the national governing bodies of golf in 149 countries.

The event format sees each entering teams fielding two or three players and the tournament is played over 18 holes of stroke play for four days. In each round, the total of the two lowest cards constitute the team score for the round.

Up for grabs is the Espirito Santo Trophy which stays with the winning team till the next WATC edition while players receive gold, silver or bronze medals as per podium placings. The lowest individual score is recognised at the closing ceremony, but no prize is awarded.

The Emirates Golf Federation is playing host to the 2023 WATC, originally set to be held in Dubai but was moved to Abu Dhabi.

This marks the first time the event, which dates back to 1958, is being held in West Asia with the Eisenhower Trophy for men completed recently where India finished in 33^rd place and the United States emerged champions.

Jaglan in top 10

Meanwhile, at the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship for men at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Australia, Shubham Jaglan was tied for ninth place on 1 over par 72 after the first day.

Shubham had two birdies against three dropped shots, a closing bogey denying the University of South Florida golfer a chance of finishing in the top six after the opening 18 holes.

Jaglan finished tied 11^th in his only previous experience at the Dubai AAC in 2021 but missed the event last year.

Of the six other Indians in the championship, Yuvraaj Singh was tied for 27^th on 3 over 73, Raghav Chugh who plays for Rice University, and Krishnaav Nikhil Chopra (Long Beach State) were in shared 53^rd place.

Young Kartik SIngh , all of 13, was battling away in a share of 62^nd place while Shaurya Bhattacharyya and Vedant Sirohi (Webber International) were further down the order.

The AAC too is a 72-hole, stroke play event with a cut for the leading 60 players plus ties after 36 holes.

In the event of a tie after 72 holes, the winner will be decided by sudden-death playoff. If inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances intervene, the Championship Committee reserves the right to modify the championship including shortening the event if necessary.

Also read: Teenager Kartik in seven-strong India squad at APAC in Melbourne