Pranavi, Talwar make top-three starts at Asiad golf competition

File photo of Pranavi Urs who led the Indian challenge on day one of the Asian Games golf competition at Nagoya, Japan, on Wednesday. Image courtesy LET.

By Rahul Banerji

Pranavi Urs and Saptak Talwar provided India with solid starts in the golf competition of the Asian Games in Japan at the Kasugai Country Club on Wednesday.

Pranavi shot a sparkling 4 under par 66 to hold sole second place in the women’s event, while Talwar matched her score to be tied for third in the men’s competition

Competing in her second Asian Games, Pranavi was three shots behind Singapore’s Shannon Tan, who led the field with a brilliant 9 under 63. 

Talwar was just one shot off the men’s lead shared by Japan’s Kazuki Higa and Chinese Taipei’s Wang Wei Hsuan on 5 under 65.

With the two best scores counting towards the team total, the Indian women ended the day tied for sixth on 3 under.

In the men’s competition, India shared fifth place, six shots behind Japan.

The opening day offered a welcome change for the field after almost a week of incessant rain in Nagoya. The Kasugai CC’s East Course, however, remained a stiff test that rewards accuracy.

Quick response

Pranavi started from the 10th tee and dropped a shot early but responded impressively thereafter. 

She produced three birdies in a four-hole stretch from holes 12 to 15 and then picked up two more shots on the second nine to complete a tidy 66.

Pranavi also set up a potentially fascinating battle with Tan, a fellow Ladies European Tour player and defending champion at next month’s Hero Women’s Indian Open. 

Pranavi has also enjoyed a breakthrough period in Indian professional golf. 

Last year, she became the first Indian woman to win a mixed professional event when she beat several Indian male professionals at an invitational in Mumbai.

Tan was in devastating form. She made nine birdies against just two bogeys to put Singapore ahead at 8 under, four shots clear of Thailand, Korea, China and Chinese Taipei.

India’s other two entrants, 2023 Asian Games silver medallist Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar, returned 1 over 71s for tied 18th place.

Eventful round

Aditi’s round included five birdies and two triple bogeys, one on each nine, while Diksha made two birdies against three dropped shots.

File photo of Saptak Talwar who shared third place in the men’s competition at Nagoya’s Kaasugai Country Club on Wednesday. Image courtesy DP World PGTI.

In the men’s competition, Talwar underlined why he currently leads the DP World-PGTI Order of Merit with a composed 4 under 66.

Talwar was particularly pleased to finally make his Asian Games appearance after missing out on the previous edition.

“Back in 2022-23, I was hoping to get to the Games but missed out. Now it is nice to be here,” he was quoted as saying.

“Today for the first 12 holes, I felt like I should have been lower. I felt like I was hitting well, putting well, but just kept over-reading some of the putts,” he said.

He also admitted to losing his rhythm off the tee and finding himself in difficult positions, including a plugged lie on the 14th, where he managed to escape with a bogey.

“But I’m pleased that I did not drop anything coming in. I am still  in the run for the next few days,” he said.

First visit

“It’s my first time to Japan, but the early feel was very European with the rain. It was not cold, but not very golf friendly weather.

“But I’m glad we got that over in the practice rounds and the course is much more benign to what we saw the last couple of days,” he said.

Yuvraj Sandhu and Veer Ahlawat both returned 1 over 71s to share 23rd, leaving India tied fifth and six shots behind Japan.

Sandhu arrived in Nagoya directly after a strong finish in France last week and admitted that his preparation had been restricted.

“I came in straight from France, where I had a great week. But I had almost no practice here – just got in nine holes. Then we had rain,” he said.

Men’s event leaders Japan were at 9 under 131 led by Kazuki Higa’s 65 with support from former Hero Indian Open winner Keita Nakajima (66). South Korea and China were tied for second on 7 under 133.

Also read: Aditi Ashok headlines six-member squad for Nagoya Asiad