Bogey-free Yuvraj Sandhu holds round one lead at Mysuru Open

Mysuru Open round one leader Yuvraj Sandhu in action at the Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Golf Club on Tuesday. Image courtesy PGTI.

By Rahul Banerji

Order of Merit leader Yuvraj Sandhu fired a scorching 9 under par 61 to take the lead on the opening day of the Rs 1 crore Mysuru Open on Tuesday.

The Chandigarh golfer scorched the par-70 Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Golf Club turf in his bogey-free round to lead by one shot, the PGTI said.

Sandhu had Bangladesh’s Jamal Hossain, who struck an outstanding 8 under 62, hard on his heels, the Dhaka golfer also going error-free on the opening day.

Past PGTI merit champion Om Prakash Chouhan of Mhow and Honey Baisoya of the DLF Golf & Country Club returned scores of 7 under 63 to share third place.

Dhruv Bopanna, playing at his home course, carded a 6 under 64 to be tied fifth alongside Bangalore’s Chikkarangappa S..

Chandigarh’s Angad Cheema, the winner of the last two PGTI events and second in the Order of Merit, began with a 69 to be tied 60^th.

Late gains

Sandhu, one of only two repeat winners on the PGTI this year along with Cheema, picked up two birdies on the front nine before racing to the top with an eagle and five birdies on the back nine.

The 28-year-old’s back nine featured some exceptional iron and wedge shots including a hole out for eagle on hole 14.    

“It was the ideal start for me as this is the first time I’m playing an event at the JWGC,” Sandhu said later. 

“The playing conditions and the weather are also quite different from our last venue in Ahmedabad. I’m just loving the weather here, it’s perfect for golf. I felt that I adapted to the conditions well today, especially the greens and the way the course is set up.

“My consistency this season has been the result of the combined efforts of the whole team including my coach, mental coach, physical trainer, physio and nutritionist. 

“I’ve also put in a lot of work in my game during the off-season and stuck to my practice schedule even in the worst of weather in the summer months. 

Hard work

“I’m now looking forward to reaping the rewards of all that hard work.”

Hossain’s eight birdies included six from within five feet and two long conversions as he drove the ball well and repeatedly landed his wedge shots close to the pin.

Jamal, a multiple winner on the PGTI, said, “I did well with my tee shots and lob wedge shots, the two essentials on this course. That helped me set up a number of tap-in birdies. 

“I had a decent first half of the season which wasn’t really up to my expectations. So, I’m now looking to make amends in the second half.”

Also read: Cheema wins Coal India Open for back-to-back PGTI titles