Noida’s Gaurav Pratap Singh on his way to a course record and the day one lead of the Kapil Dev Grant Thornton Invitational at Prestige Golfshire on Thursday. Image courtesy PGTI.
By Rahul Banerji
Two-time PGTI winner Gaurav Pratap Singh shot a course record 9 under par 63 for the first-round lead at the Rs 2 crore Kapil Dev Grant Thornton Invitational at the Prestige Golfshire Club near Bangalore on Thursday.
The Noida Golf Course player’s flawless round broke the previous course record of 5 under 67 set by Rashid Khan in 2012, the PGTI said.
Delhi’s Arjun Prasad, fresh from his runner-up finish at the Qutab course last week, continued his fine form with an 8 under 64 to sit in second place.
Bangalore’s Khalin Joshi struck a 65 for the third spot at the first-of-its-kind PGTI event with a mixed field of 60 men and 12 lady professionals.
Gaganjeet Bhullar, Om Prakash Chouhan and Yuvraj Sandhu were among those in a five-way tie for sixth on 5 under 67.
Hitaashee Bakshi had the best score among the lady golfers with a 3 under 69 to be tied 19th.
Flying start
Gaurav began with a tap-in birdie and followed up with a 20-foot eagle conversion on hole five to pick up some early momentum.
Outstanding tee shots with the 3-wood and wedge-play helped Gaurav, a winner of four pro titles including two on the PGTI main tour, collect five more birdies between holes eight and 16.
The 40-year-old finally drained a 15-footer for birdie on 17 to close the day with a phenomenal 63.
“Everything came together well today as far as my game is concerned,” Gaurav said.
“I was nursing a couple of injuries in my knee and wrist in the previous weeks but right now the body is in good shape and I’m injury-free.
“This course is in peach condition and requires a lot of planning. I’m playing with a clear plan and using my 3-wood more often than the driver because I’m looking to place the ball well off the tee.
“The plan seemed to work for me today. The eagle early on in my round gave me a lot of momentum and was one of the highlights of my round.
Welcome change
“It’s great to play this new format where the lady professionals are also competing for the main prize.
“I’m also looking forward to playing alongside the amateurs. I would like to take this opportunity to thank PGTI president Kapil Dev and Grant Thornton for getting this event back on the PGTI schedule.”
Prasad, second on the PGTI Order of Merit with five top-10s this season, posted nine birdies and a bogey on Thursday landing the ball to within five feet on five occasions and knocked in three birdie putts from between 10 and 12 feet.
“The game is in great shape and that is evident from the fact that this is my second straight round of eight under,” Prasad said later.
Following up
“I fired an eight under in the last round of last week’s event in Delhi and it feels like I resumed from where I left off the previous week.”
Vinod Chandiok (from left), PGTI president and tournament host Kapil Dev, leading Indian professionals Gaganjeet Bhullar and Tvesa Malik, senior selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar and Grant Thornton Bharat CEO Vishesh C. Chandiok unveil the KDGT 2025 trophy at the Prestige Golfshire course near Bangalore on Thursday. Image courtesy PGTI.
Earlier, the tournament was inaugurated with the unveiling of the trophy and ceremonial tee-offs by tournament host Kapil Dev, Grant Thornton Bharat CEO Vishesh C. Chandiok, professionals Gaganjeet Bhullar and Tvesa Malik and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar.
The tournament combines a professional element with a daily Pro-Am with 24 professionals leading a three-member amateur group in the afternoon behind 48 pros teeing off in the morning wave.
The roster of 24 professionals will change daily, thereby making for a level playing field for all the 72 in contention for the Rs 30 lakh top prize.
Prize money will also be awarded to the top three professionals in the Pro-Am standings.
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