By Rahul Banerji
Bangalore teenager Shaurya Binu set the early pace with a classy 6 under par 66 at the Rs 1 crore Dream Valley Group presents Vooty Masters at Vooty Golf County in Vikarabad on Wednesday.
PGTI Q School topper Matias Dominguez of Chile and Patna’s Aman Raj were placed one stroke behind the leader in tied second position, the PGTI said.
Binu, playing his second season as a professional, began with a 25-footer for birdie and followed up with a terrific approach that led to a short birdie conversion on the third.
After swapping birdie for bogey before the turn, Binu picked up four more shots on the back nine, three of them being 10 to 15-foot conversions.
The 19-year-old, playing his first competitive round at the magnificent Vooty Golf County, said, “It was a fun round. I started with a birdie that really got me going.
“Then it was all about steady gains and avoiding bogeys. I knew where to miss the greens, that’s what got me the birdies. I played a great flop shot to set up my last birdie of the day on 15.
Amazing course
“It’s an amazing golf course as the fairways and greens are in superb shape. You need to know where to play safe and where to play aggressively at this venue.
“I would like to thank Dream Valley Group for making this event possible,” added Binu, who retained his tour card by finishing inside the top-60 of the Order of Merit in his rookie season last year.
Q School winner Dominguez had an eagle, four birdies and a bogey in his 67 courtesy a couple of monster putts and some outstanding wedge shots.
Aman Raj mixed six birdies with a bogey for his 67 to be tied second alongside Dominguez.
Rahil Gangjee, Akshay Sharma and Amardeep Malik were in a three-way tie for fourth place on 68.
Vikarabad-based Mohd Azhar, playing at his home course, was tied 17th after he shot a 70.
Manu Gandas, the defending champion and last week’s winner on the PGTI, struck a 74 for tied 69th.
Round 1 leaders
66: Shaurya Binu
67: Aman Raj, Matias Dominguez
68: Rahil Gangjee, Akshay Sharma, Amardeep Malik
Also read: Gandas sets out to defend Vooty Masters title from Wednesday
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