Ganapathy brothers start well at US Kids Golf Indian C’ships

By Rahul Banerji

Bangalore-based brothers Jashan and Veer Ganapathy shared the lead in their respective categories in the first round of the US Kids Golf Indian Championships.

Playing in the Boys 12, Jashan shot a 1-over 73 to sit alongside Danish Verma, while Veer carded a level par 72 with Vihaan Reddy in the Boys 15-18 section at the Classic Golf and Country Club.

More than 90 players from eight countries are playing in the third edition of the US Kids Indian Championships, from where players will earn points to qualify for the US Kids European and World Championships in 2024.

The Ganapathy brothers are sons of former pro golfer Rahul Ganapathy, who won both as an amateur and as a pro on the Indian circuit. He now teaches juniors in Bangalore and runs the US Kids Local Tour in the city.

Jahan had four birdies and five bogeys and had reached 3-under after 12, but gave away five shots against one more birdie in the last six holes. Co-leader Danish had two birdies against three bogeys.

Late revival

Veer carded three birdies against as many bogeys, while Vihaan had three bogeys in the first six holes but recovered with two birdies and an eagle against two bogeys on the back nine.

In one of the most intensely contested sections, the Boys 13-14, Ayan Dubey had four birdies against four bogeys, while Rannvijay Singh Gill and Prince Bainsla shot 73 and 74.

Kabir Goyal in the Boys 8 had three birdies and three bogeys in a fine showing, while Rudar Gupta carded a superb 2-under 70 in the Boys 9. He was helped by two late birdies on seventh and ninth holes.

Among the girls, in Category 11-12, Amiya Koul, who is based in Singapore shot a 1-under 71 and led Smira Bhandari by seven shots.

Parnika Sharma had four bogeys and an unfortunate triple against two birdies in her 77, but she still led by four over Ananyaa Sood in the Girls 13-14.

Round one placings

Boys 7 (9 holes): 1, Zorawar Singh Chahal (42); Nihal Cheema (43); Samar Singh (45)

Boys 8 (9 holes): 1. Kabir Goyal (36); T2: Divjot Gupta and N. Suryaansh Reddy (41)

Boys 9: 1. Rudar Gupta (70); 2. Guransh Singh Gujral (85)

Boys 10: 1. Adit Veeramachaneni (72); 2. Arnav Kumar (74); T3. Sohraab Singh Tanwar, Aarnav Patel and Siddhant Sharma (78)

Boys 11: 1. Aditya Mishra (76), 2. Vidit Aggarwal (80), 3. Aryaveer Singh Grewal (82)

Boys 12: T1. Jashan Ganapathy and Danish Verma (73 each), 3. Siddhaan Chhibber (75)

Boys 13-14: 1. Ayan Dubey (72); 2. Rannvijay Singh Gill (73), 3. Prince Bainsla (74)

Boys 15-18: T1. Veer Ganapathy and Vihaan Reddy (72); 3. Ranveer Singh Dhupia (73)

Girls 8 (9 holes): 1. Ridhima Kapoor (41), 2. Ahana Shah (42), Aaradhya Bhatnagar (46)

Girls 9-10: 1. Aida Thimmaiah (76), 2. Ruvishka Chudsama, 3. Morgan Tucnik

Girls 11-12: Amiya Koul (Sing) (71), 2. Smira Bhambri (78), 3. Naina Kapoor (81)

Girls 13-14: 1. Parnika Sharma (77), 2. Ananyaa Sood (81), 3. Anandita Baloria (83)

Also read: Local talent favoured for edition three of US Kids Indian C’ships