Five-way tie for lead in QA InfoTech Open, Jeev in cruise mode

By Rahul Banerji

A crowded leaderboard marked day one of the inaugural QA InfoTech Open with five players tied at the top on three-under-par 69s at the Noida Golf Course on Tuesday.

Delhi-based Asian Tour regular Chiragh Kumar fired two eagles and Sri Lanka’s N. Thangaraja came up with a hole-in-one to cement their slots at the top of the pack.

The other three in the lead were Jamshedpur-based Karan Taunk, Sri Lankan Mithun Perera and Delhi’s Arjun Prasad.

Six others were a shot behind in tied sixth including the seasoned Delhi duo of Ashok Kumar and Arjun Singh besides Om Prakash Chouhan of Mhow and Chandigarh-based amateur Yuvraj Singh Sandhu, fourth in Jaipur last week.

Steady round by Jeev

Indian path-breaker Jeev Milkha Singh, making his return to the PGTI after almost a year, shot a one-under-71 to be tied 13^th at the QA InfoTech Open on the day.

Former Asian Tour winner Chiragh Kumar had a promising back-nine where he was two-under with a chip-in for eagle on the 14^th. He then produced his second eagle of the day on the first where he canned a 15-feet putt.

He was five-under for the day heading into the last hole, the ninth where he had a double-bogey to spoil an otherwise bright day at the Noida GC.

Said Chiragh later, “It’s probably the first time that I’ve made two eagles in the same round.

“That’s quite satisfying in itself. The conditions weren’t easy as it was tough to judge the pace on the greens. The golf course is also playing longer than usual due to the recent rains.

“My first round of seven-under-63 during last week’s event in Jaipur has done a world of good considering I’ve had a tough year on the Asian Tour so far.

“This is a good start taking into account the tough scoring conditions here in Noida.”

Thangaraja, a winner on the PGTI this year, had a terrific start with a birdie on the first and a hole-in-one on the par-3 third. He then had a lean patch from the seventh to the 15^th holes with two bogeys and a double-bogey against one birdie.

He then came roaring back with birdies on the last three holes, and said, “I was quite excited after seeing my tee shot land in the hole on the third. It was a six-iron shot.

“Unfortunately, I couldn’t capitalize on the good start. There were too many errors thereafter. But I was happy with the late comeback on the last three holes.”

Of the other joint leaders at Noida, Perera had five birdies and two bogeys while Taunk and Prasad produced four birdies and a bogey each.

Jeev, playing at the Noida Golf Course after five years, mixed three birdies with a bogey and a double-bogey to be two off the lead.

 

Ladies set to resume battle 

Tvesa Malik and Amandeep Drall will renew battle for honours at the DLF Golf and Country Club in the 14^th leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour from Wednesday.

The top two on the Hero Order of Merit have been paired in the opening group while last week’s winner, Afshan Fatima starts in the final group.

JAipur’s Afshan, finally won her maiden pro title last week at Greater Noida and will be brimming with confidence.

Amandeep, who has three wins and two runner-up finishes in her last six events, was second place in the play-offs in both the 12^th and 13^th legs. She lost the one at Hyderabad to Tvesa and just recently was beaten by Afshan.

Prior to that, Amandeep won the eighth, 10^th and 11^thlegs. She is second on the Order of Merit behind Tvesa, who has played in each of the first 13 legs of the Tour. Amandeep missed three events, the third, fourth and fifth legs.

Afshan and Tvesa are among only four players who have played every tournament this season. While Tvesa leads the Order of merit, Afshan is sixth.

Also read: Patna Tiger Aman Raj chalks up maiden PGTI win