Madappa leads Asiad men’s trials; Jahanvi, Avani atop women’s section

By Rahul Banerji

Viraj Madappa fired a 4-under 68 to lead by four shots in round two of the Asian Games selection trials at the Karnataka Golf Association course in Bangalore on Wednesday.

In the women’s trials for the upcoming Games in Hangzhou, China this September, India’s top amateur golfer Avani Prashanth shot a blistering 8-under 64 on day 2 to be tied for the lead with Jahanvi Bakshi.

Overnight leader in the women’s, Hitaashee Bakshi was third on 2-under 142, four shots behind the leaders.

With the Asian Games thrown open to professionals for the first time, the Indian Golf Union is conducting trials over five days, with the best four cards counted towards selection.

Of the four slots open in the men’s event, two have been taken by Anirban Lahiri and Shubhankar Sharma on the basis of their world rankings.

Lahiri, India’s only PGA Tour regular is ranked 85th and Sharma, who plies his trade on the European circuit is 172^nd.

Two places are up for grabs for which a field of 16 has entered on the men’s side.

Tight race

India has three spots in the Asiad women’s golf competition with two places taken by Aditi Ashok (WR 112) and Tvesa Malik (WR 323). A field of 11 is battling for the final place on the team.

On Wednesday, Madappa’s eight birdies and four bogeys took his total to 10-under 134 (66-68).

The Kolkata golfer led Chandigarh’s Yuvraj Singh Sandhu (68-70) and Karandeep Kochhar (69-69), both on 6-under 138.

Overnight joint leader Veer Ahlawat (66-73) was fourth on 5-under 139 while Bangalore’s Chikkarangappa S, returned the day’s best card of 67 to hold tenth place.

Playing her home course, Avani opened on Wednesday with five straight birdies and added a sixth on hole 8 before dropping her first shot of the round on the ninth.

The national women’s champion followed her sensational outbound nine (5-under 31) with a further four birdies against one dropped shot even as Jahanvi carded a steady 3-under 69 for the second day running.

Round 2 scores

Men

134: Viraj Madappa (66-68)

138: Karandeep Kochhar (69-69), Yuvraj Singh Sandhu (68-70)

139: Veer Ahlawat (66-73)

141: Rashid Khan (68-73), Krishnav Nikhil Chopra (72-69)

142: Udayan Mane (71-71), Khalin Joshi (69-73), Kshitij Naveed Kaul (69-73)

143: Chikkarangappa S. (76-67)

145: Shaurya Bhattacharya (74-71)

146: Milind Soni (68-78)

149: Atiksh Gupta (73-76)

150: Aryan Roopa Anand (78-72)

152: Yuvraj Singh (77-75)

155: Shat Mishra (78-77)

Women

138: Jahanvi Bakshi (69-69), Avani Prashanth (74-64)

142: Hitaashee Bakshi (68-74)

145: Kriti Chowhan (74-71)

146: Gaurika Bishnoi (74-72)

147: Sneha Singh (76-71)

148: Lakhmehar Pardesi (75-73)

149: Seher Atwal (74-75)

151: Heena Kang (75-76)

156: Smriti Bhargava (81-75)

159: Hunar Mittal (75-84)

Also read: Aditi, Anirban, Shubhankar, Tvesa, Diksha included in TOPS list