Bhattacharya is DP World Players C’ship early leader at Tolly 

Delhi’s Shaurya Bhattacharya tees off on Tuesday on his way into the day one lead of the DP World Players Championship at Kolkata’s Tollygunge Club. Image courtesy DP World PGTI.

By Rahul Banerji

Three-time DP World PGTI winner Shaurya Bhattacharya set the tone in the Rs 1.5 crore DP World Players Championship at Tollygunge Club in Kolkata on Tuesday.

The 23-three-year-old, coming off a top-10 finish in Asia last week and in his first home event of the new season, topped the leaderboard with a 6 under par 64 on the day.

Two eagles marked his first round of the event Powered by Urbana at the Par-70 course, the DP World PGTI said.

Bhattacharya’s namesake Shaurya Sharma, in his second season as a professional, struck a 65 to share second place with Manish Thakran, a winner on the PGTI NexGen last year.

Starting from the 10^th hole, Delhi-based Bhattacharya was on fire over the first five holes where he made two birdies and an eagle on the 13^th with a chip-in. 

A bogey on 16 was nullified by his second eagle on hole four followed by a birdie on seven. Bhattacharya holed his approach shot from 110 yards for an eagle-two on the fourth.

Consistent display

Third in the DP World PGTI Ranking last season with two wins, Bhattacharya said later, “I’m happy that I’ve been very consistent and I’m making most fairways and greens. 

“My driving has stood out and my misses are also getting narrower. I’ve drawn a lot of positives from my performances last year. 

“The fact that I played well in Malaysia last week added to my confidence. It’s great to start the year with a top-10 finish,” added the player who will be one of the top draws at the PGTI’s 72 The League starting next week.

Sharma, who was in the top 15 at the PGTI Qualifying School in January, came up with six birdies and a bogey on day one.

The birdies included a chip-in and a conversion each from a range of 15 and 30 feet.

Thakran also put together six birdies and a bogey on Tuesday. He regularly landed it within seven feet to pick up birdies.

The best-placed among the Kolkata golfers was Mohammad Sanju who carded a 68 to be tied 15^th.

Also read: Baisoya wins big at DP World Players C’ship to end title wait