Three share first round lead at Delhi-NCR Open Golf C’ship

By Rahul Banerji

Ajeetesh Sandhu, Harendra Gupta and Honey Baisoya all carded 6-under par 66s to share the day one lead in the Prometheus School Delhi-NCR Open at Golden Greens Golf Club near Gurgaon on Tuesday.

Rashid Khan of Delhi and Bangalore’s Trishul Chinnappa were tied for fourth one shot off the pace on 5-under-67s.

Asian Tour winner Sandhu opened with two birdies including a 15-foot conversion on his opening 10^th hole.

Another 15-foot conversion followed for Ajeetesh, who was four-under at the turn having drained a birdie on 17 as well.

However, on the front nine, Chandigarh-based Sandhu missed a few scoring opportunities on the greens and managed just two more birdies.

Ajeetesh said later, “I had a great start today as the birdies on the first two holes really got me going.

“But a few missed chances on the greens slowed down my progress after the turn. Nonetheless, I’m happy to have kept the errors out.

Good wood

“I used my 5-wood to great effect today. It’s a club that I’ve always favoured and been comfortable with.

“I struggled for some time after the lockdown last year. I even missed the cut at the Tata Steel Tour Championship in December.

“My game is getting better with each event. I feel I’m getting back into the groove now.

“I had a couple of top-20s in the two events in Ahmedabad last month but my game was still much better than those two results suggest.

“I really like the design and the layout of Golden Greens. The tee shots here can be quite a test.”

Harendra Gupta also of Chandigarh came up with consistent putting to pick up seven birdies against one bogey on Tuesday.

Gupta, a five-time winner on the PGTI, also struck his approach shots well to set up a number of birdies within four to eight feet.

“My short-game had always been my strength. But I’ve been struggling with it since last season, especially my putting,” he said.

“The last two events I played, I struck the ball really well but it didn’t show in my results as my putting let me down.

Putter hot

“However, today was a good day with the putter despite the greens being quite testing here.

“I made a few good four to eight foot putts and also drained an 18-footer. I’m hoping I can have a good week.”

Baisoya, winner of the Delhi-NCR Open’s inaugural edition in 2018, had a slow start and got his first birdie of the day on the eighth.

However, four straight birdies thereafter brought him within sight of the lead.

A minor blip followed on 12 where he dropped a shot but he came back with three birdies on the last five holes including two on the closing stretch.

Rashid, currently the best-ranked Indian in the world at 311, mixed an eagle and four birdies with a bogey for his 67.

Chinnappa, who too fired a 67, had an identical card.

The seasoned Gaurav Ghei of Delhi and Gurgaon-based Veer Ahlawat were tied for sixth on 68.

Chikkarangappa S. was T12 on 70 while PGTI Order of Merit leader Karandeep Kochhar of Chandigarh, Kolkata’s Rahil Gangjee and Udayan Mane were all in tied 22^nd place on 71.

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