By Rahul Banerji
Chandigarh golfer Karandeep Kochhar got off to a flying start at the Rs 1 crore S.S.P. Chawrasia Invitational at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club on Wednesday to lead the field by one shot.
Kochhar, riding on the confidence of having sealed his Asian Tour card for next year, fired a six-under 66 at the event presented by TAKE.
Abhinav Lohan of the DLF Golf & Country Club shot a 67 to occupy second place.
Gaganjeet Bhullar was tied eighth on 69 alongside Manu Gandas, currently second on the Tata Steel PGTI Rankings.
Rankings leader Yuvraj Singh Sandhu was a further shot behind in tied 12th place.
LIV Golf star Anirban Lahiri, making a rare appearance on the PGTI, was tied in 19th place on one-under 71.
Tournament host Shiv Shankar Prasad Chawrasia and Shankar Das were the highest-placed Kolkata golfers alongside Lahiri.
Kochhar looked comfortable despite a gap of five years since his last round at the RCGC.
The 23-year-old had an initial stutter when he dropped his only shot of the day but got on a roll after a 30-foot birdie conversion soon after.
Among his six other birdies were two 15-feet conversions. Kochhar, fifth on the PGTI’s money list, also picked up shots on both the course’s par-5s.
Good momentum
Kochhar said, “I’m carrying the momentum after having played well in Asia to lock up my card for next season.
“That was in fact my biggest goal this year. I got going on the 13th where I holed a long putt on probably one of the toughest holes here at the RCGC.
“The birdie on 13 kickstarted my round. The putter was also cooperative today and I hit the ball good, not leaving myself too many tough putts for pars.
“It’s fun to be back here at RCGC where I won the All India Amateur back in 2017 which I consider one of my most special weeks.
“The golf course is in great condition and we’re all happy to be here celebrating SSP and his legacy and what he’s done for the sport in India.”
Lohan got off to a slow start with bogeys on his first two holes but came roaring back with three birdies and an eagle on the next four holes.
Abhinav’s accurate approach shot left him a tap-in birdie on 14 while he drained a 40-footer for eagle on 15. He added three more birdies and a bogey on the back nine.
Also read: Inaugural Chawrasia Invitational tees off at RCGC on Wednesday
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