By Rahul Banerji
Lokesh Lakshman, Deepak Chouhan and amateur Harsh Gangwar shared the first round lead at 3-under par 69 in Pre Qualifying II of the Tata Steel PGTI Qualifying School.
Q School resumed on Tuesday at the Kalhaar Blues & Greens Golf Club in Ahmedabad after a month-long break.
Lakshman, a teaching professional at the KGA in Bengaluru, enjoyed a good start in his third appearance at the PGTI Qualifying School.
He opened with a bogey but rallied thereafter with birdies on the third, fourth and fifth holes courtesy of his driving and approach shots.
Lakshman narrowly missed an eagle on the fourth where his approach from 145 yards stopped inches from the flag.
On the back nine, Lakshman added two more birdies against a lone bogey with some excellent approach work.
“I didn’t begin the day well but then focused hard to get my round going with the birdie on the third,” Lakshman said later.
“It has been a challenge to deal with the one-month delay in the Q School due to the pandemic.
“I had to restart my preparations as my home course was also closed for a while due to the lockdown.”
Good fightback
Deepak Chouhan, brother of multiple PGTI winner Om Prakash Chouhan, was one-over after 12 holes but fought back with two birdies and an eagle-two on 18 where he found the hole with his approach from 150 yards.
Mhow’s Deepak, who has caddied for his brother in the past, said, “OP keeps motivating me and often shares valuable inputs to improve my game. That has given me great confidence coming into this week.”
Delhi-based amateur Harsh Gangwar, appearing at the PGTI Q School for the first time, began with a double-bogey worked his way to the top with six birdies in exchange for a lone bogey thereafter.
Karan Taunk along with amateurs Arjun Bhati, Rohan Dhole Patil, and Divyansh Dubey was tied for second on 2-under 70s.
Of an 86-strong field, the top 21 plus ties qualify from Pre Qualifying II, a 36-hole event, for the Final Qualifying Stage.
There are three Pre Qualifying events in all ahead of the PGTI season-opener, the Gujarat Open, also in Ahmedabad from February 22.
Also read: Bais, Neranjen share top spot in Pre Quali I, 26 enter Final Stage
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