Bajaj, Lohan share clubhouse lead on rain-hit first day at RCGC

By Rahul Banerji

Divyanshu Bajaj and Abhinav Lohan shared the clubhouse lead on the rain-hit opening day of the Rs 1 crore SSP Chawrasia Invitational presented by TAKE Sports at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club on Thursday.

Kolkata golfer Divyanshu and DLF Golf & Country Club-based Lohan were shot level-par 72s in testing conditions as it rained through the day, the PGTI said.

There were two stoppages in play totalling 90 minutes thanks to the rain, leaving the opening round incomplete with only 66 players able to finish the full 18 holes from a field of 126.

The remaining 60 will resume round one early on Friday and the second round will commence immediately thereafter.

Home advantage

Bajaj, playing at his home course, swapped three birdies for as many bogeys while 2010 Asian Games medallist Lohan had three birdies, a bogey and a double.

The thick rough this year has added to the challenge of playing at the RCGC.

Defending champion Manu Gandas fired a 75 while tournament host S.S.P. Chawrasia returned a 78.

Among those out on the course with unfinished rounds, Syed Saqib Ahmed of Bangalore was the best-placed at 2-under through nine holes thanks to three birdies and a bogey.

Tata Steel PGTI Rankings leader Om Prakash Chouhan was 1-under after nine while Kartik Sharma and American Varun Chopra were both 1-under after six.

Rahil Gangjee, who grew up playing at the RCGC, was level par through nine holes.

Also read: RCGC set to host second edition of S.S.P. Chawrasia Invitational