By Rahul Banerji
Delhi youngster Harshjeet Singh Sethie came flying out of the blocks as the PGTI resumed its season after a summer break in Coimbatore on Wednesday.
The 20-year-old sizzled on his way to a six-under 66 in gusty conditions in the first round of the Rs 50 lakh Tata Steel PGTI Players Championship presented by KGiSL at Coimbatore Golf Club.
Delhi’s Shamim Khan, Arjun Sharma of Greater Noida and Bangalore rookie Raunil Kukar shared second place five-under 67, the PGTI said.
Local pro Sidhartha Sharathram shot an 80 to be the best-placed among the Coimbatore golfers at T109.
Sethie, the tallest player on the PGTI at a towering 6 feet and 7 inches, went out in the afternoon group and met tough conditions as the winds synonymous with the area picked up soon after he teed off.
For its part, the morning wave had seen relatively more benign conditions.
Rebound mode
Playing only his second professional season, Sethie had a bright start in Coimbatore after a slow first half of the year where he managed just one top-20.
He opened with a birdie on 10 before dropping shots on the next two holes with three-putts.
The Delhi Golf Club pro then fought back with seven birdies including a chip-in on 14 and an up and down from the bunker on 15.
“My ball-striking was very good as I hit 15 greens in regulation and made a lot of putts for birdies and pars just to keep my momentum going,” Sethie said later.
“The breeze picked up after my third hole so I had to keep it low under the wind. I had two bogeys on the first three holes so I knew that I had a lot of holes to recover.
“I was struggling with my long game so I worked a lot on it during the mid-season break which I feel is paying off now.
“My iron-play was great today. I hit most greens so I didn’t have to chip and putt which got me confidence.
“I enjoy playing here at the Coimbatore Golf Club because it gives me the feeling of a links course.”
Error-free
Arjun Sharma enjoyed a bogey-free day while Kukar, playing only his third event as a pro, pushed into the top four with an eagle on his closing ninth hole.
Shamim Khan mixed six birdies and a bogey on day one.
Ravi Kumar of Chandimandir, Chandigarh’s Harendra Gupta and Bangalore’s Syed Saqib Ahmed were tied for fifth on 68.
Khalin Joshi, one of the leading names in the field, shot a 69 to be tied eighth along with fellow Bangalorean Akshay Neranjen, who is playing his first event as a professional.
The Chandigarh duo of Aadil Bedi and the seasoned Amandeep Johl were also tied for eighth.
Reigning champion K Prabagaran of Sri Lanka carded a score of 82 to be placed tied 121st.
Also read: PGTI season resumes with Players Championship in Coimbatore
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