Debutant Chopraa off to good start at AAC, China’s Bo Jin leads

From a Correspondent

Chonburi, Thailand: Debutant Krishnav Nikhil Chopraa was the best-placed Indian on day one of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Chonburi, Thailand on Thursday.

Chopraa, son of former India cricketer Nikhil Chopra who is on the bag for his son at Chonburi was tied for 20th place on two-under-par 70 at the Amata Spring Country Club.

China’s Bo Jin led the way with a seven-under 65, two shots up on Singapore’s James Leow and Thailand’s teenage star Ratchanon Chantananuwat 

Delhi’s Shat Mishra was in shared 50^th place on a one-over 73 with Rayhan Thomas, Arjun Gupta and Milind Soni in tied 61^st on two-over 74s.

Aryan Roopa Anand (75) was T74 and Shaurya Bhattacharya (76) T80 in the 120-strong field which has players from 38 countries and territories participating.

The 17-year-old Chopraa had five birdies but twice hit into water – on eight for a bogey and a double bogey on nine.

Coming back

“I made a good recovery on the back nine,” said Krishnav.

Bo Jin began the day with a bogey, but then had six birdies and an eagle in his 65. Bo’s brother, Cheng, won the championship in 2015 and Bo himself finished third and eighth in his previous two AAC starts.

Chopraa, a Long Beach State University fresher, said, “I started off with a birdie and hit my driver on fairway about 90 yards into the pin. I left it 15-20 feet short but made the putt.

 “I was three‑under through seven holes.  On eight I hit a bad tee shot into the water and on nine again hit into the water.

“But after that, I bounced back.  I made a good recovery on the back nine; it was bogey‑free.”

Speaking of having his father as caddie, Krishnav added, “He’s pretty good with the lines.  He’s a golfer, too. He knew what he was doing and he helped me with a few putts.

“Kept me hydrated. Kept me cheered up even after I hit the bogey and double‑bogey.”

Late slip

Thomas, runner-up in 2018 at Sentosa, Singapore, was 1-under through 15 before he dropped a shot on 16 and then found water from the middle of the fairway for a double bogey in a card of 74.

Arjun Gupta rallied from 3-over after three to even after 13 only to drop shots on 15 and 16 and finish 2-over.

Shat Mishra was level par after 13 holes but added two birdies against three bogeys in his closing holes.

There will be a cut after 36 holes and the top 50 and ties will qualify for the final two rounds.

Also read: Chopra takes time off from commentary to caddie for son at AAC