File photo of DP World PGTI Open clubhouse joint leader Rashid Khan after the weather-interrupted opening round in Gurgaon on Thursday. Image courtesy DP World PGTI.
By Rahul Banerji
Adam Wallin, Rashid Khan and Sebastian Friedrichsen shared a one-stroke clubhouse lead on the first day of the DP World PGTI Open in Gurgaon on Thursday.
Sweden’s Wallin and India star Rashid were among the early starters with both signing for 6 under par rounds of 66 at the Classic Golf and Country Club, the HotelPlanner Tour said.
Friedrichsen joined the leaders late in the day after firing four birdies and an eagle in his 12 completed holes before play was suspended due to bad light.
Wallin, on his first full HotelPlanner Tour season, mixed five birdies with one bogey before closing his round out with an eagle on the par five 18th.
The 24-year-old, who won three times on the Nordic Golf League last year, was pleased with his effort.
“I had a bit of a slow start,” he said. “I played okay on the front nine, I didn’t hole a few of my putts, but I got it going on the back nine and had a really good final stretch.
“I made an easy birdies on 12 and 14 and hit a great shot into the par five 16th and finished off with a nice three iron to five feet on the last for eagle”
Good form
Rashid, as top 30 finisher at last week’s Indorama Ventures Open in Ahmedabad matched Wallin’s score with six birdies, an eagle and two bogeys.
The 35-year-old finished in a tie for 11th on the Classic course 12 months ago and is looking to continue his positive form on home soil.
“I’m really happy,” he said. “I started well, made birdie on the second hole and again on the sixth.
“I was hitting it everywhere today, but somehow, I was making the greens from there. I’ve been putting well for the last three weeks and I’m trying to give myself some birdie putts.
“This golf course requires some good putting and some good tee shots, especially on the front nine.
“My game is getting back on track and that’s why I’m enjoying my golf right now. I’m really struggling with my driver, but I’m managing the scores now.”
Ireland’s Conor Purcell, South African Yurav Premlall, Spaniard Albert Boneta and Austrian Lukas Nemecz all shared fourth place on 5 under 67.
Friedrichsen will return to the course for a 6:50am tee time to complete his first round before the second round gets under way at 7:20am local time, with Wallin teeing off alongside Premlall and Honey Baisoya at 12:45pm.
Rashid tees off at 1:45pm with Purcell and Nemecz.
Also read: Inaugural DP World PGTI Open is under way at the Classic GCC
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