Dwivedi sets Pune Open bar with record-equalling round of 63

By Rahul Banerji

Samarth Dwivedi matched the course record at the Poona Club Golf course with an 8-under  par 63 to set the tone in round one of the Pune Open Golf Championship on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old led the Rs. 30 lakh event by one shot ahead of Bangalore’s Jaibir Singh, who had an equally outstanding effort of 7-under-64.

Dwivedi, who moved base from Singapore to Ahmedabad earlier this year, kick his round into high gear with his first two birdies on the sixth and seventh holes.

He then missed a couple of opportunities on the eighth and ninth but soon got into his stride on the back-nine with four successive birdies. Dwivedi’s chip for eagle lipped out on the 12^th.

The hitherto winless Dwivedi then picked up two further shots, the latter a 20-foot conversion, to equal the course record set by C Muniyappa (2014 PGTI Qualifying School Final Stage), Chikkarangappa S. (2006), S. Madaiah (2005) and Vijay Kumar (2004).

Bogey-free

Dwivedi said later, “It was just great to play bogey-free. For starters, I knew getting through the first four holes, the toughest stretch of this course, without any damage, would be half the battle won. I managed to do that successfully with pars on the first four holes. That gave me some confidence.

“The other highlight was extracting birdies with long conversions on the seventh and 10^th despite finding the trees and being in trouble on both holes. I feel I handled my emotions pretty well on those two occasions that helped me make good recoveries.

“My game just went to the next level on the back nine. After gaining momentum with four consecutive birdies from the 10^th to 13^th I thought maybe I could even touch 10-under as I was having an above average day with the putter and wasn’t missing any greens.

Drastic step

“I went through a rough patch last year as I had to go to the PGTI Q School for the first time in three years having finished outside the top-60 of the PGTI Order of Merit in 2018.

“Even at the Q School my performance wasn’t great. So I knew some drastic steps had to be taken. Therefore, after discussing with my family I decided to move base from Singapore to the Kalhaar Blues & Greens course in Ahmedabad where I was given full playing rights.

“The decision was taken with the intent of devoting more time to the game. The Kalhaar course is in great condition through the year and prepares me well for the rigours of the season. So far the relocation to Ahmedabad seems to be working out well for me.

“I’m happy with the way I’m striking the ball at the moment. If I can keep this up, I’m pretty sure that I’ll be contending later in the week,” said Samarth, who originally hails from Allahabad.

Twenty-eight-year-old Jaibir Singh, playing his third season as a professional, came up with the best round of his career to stay on the heels of the leader. Jaibir, who began the day with a bogey, went on to add an eagle and seven birdies to his card. He chipped-in for eagle on the 14^th and landed it within five feet on several occasions.

Bengaluru’s Trishul Chinnappa was in third at 6-under-65 while Panchkula’s Angad Cheema and Sri Lankan N. Thangaraja occupied joint fourth place at 5-under-66.

Chandigarh’s Harendra Gupta, the 2016 Pune Open winner and the only former winner in the field, returned a one-over-72 to be tied 36^th.

Also read: Zaman Mollah cards sensational 63 to nick Bengal Open title