Three-way tie for top spot after Tour Championship first round

Delhi golfer Saarthak Chibber on his way into a share of the day one lead at the season-ending Tata Steel Tour Championship in Jamshedpur on Thursday. Image courtesy PGTI.

By Rahul Banerji

Saarthak Chhibber, Aadil Bedi and N. Thangaraja shot 6 under par 65s to share the lead after round one of the Rs 3 crore Tata Steel Tour Championship at the Beldih and Golmuri Golf Courses in Jamshedpur on Thursday.

Four players were tied for second on 5 under 66 at the season-ending event, Pune’s Rohan Dhole Patil, Shamim Khan of Delhi, Bangalore’s M. Dharma and Jamal Hossain of Bangladesh.

Two-time Tata Steel Tour Championship winner Udayan Mane, Ranking leader Veer Ahlawat and two-time Indian Open winner S.S.P. Chawrasia, were among the six in tied eighth on 4 under 67.

Defending champion and two-time winner Gaganjeet Bhullar returned an even-par 71 to be tied 34^th.

The first round saw one half of the field play their first nine holes at Golmuri and the second nine at Beldih while the other half of the field played Beldih first followed by Golmuri.

This format will also be followed for the next three rounds of the tournament with par for the 18 holes being 71.

Delhi’s Chhibber, 27^th on the PGTI’s merit list with three top-10s this season, was quick off the blocks with three birdies on the first six holes, hitting it close on most occasions.

After bogey on the eighth, he came back well with an excellent chip to set up a birdie on the ninth.

With crisp ball-striking, the 26-year-old who is looking to pick up his maiden title, collected three more birdies on the back nine including an up and down from the bunker.

Chhibber scored birdies on all the four par-5s and said later, “I enjoyed a very hot start. The early birdies and three good par-saves including two from long-range kept the momentum going for me.

“I consistently hit it close and fortunately my short game held up. I’ve not had good outings at the last two events but I’m carrying the confidence of having performed consistently this season.

Great conditions

“As for the two golf courses, the conditions have been great. I feel one can be more aggressive in Golmuri while a little more planning is required for Beldih.”

Chandigarh golfer Bedi was one-over through the back nine where he made two birdies at the cost of three bogeys.

However, Bedi, currently 48^th on the PGTI’s money list, came roaring back with a fabulous front nine where he picked up five shots and added an eagle on the closing ninth. The eagle and two birdies came as a result of conversions from a range of 10 to 15 feet.

“After a slow start, I found my groove in the second half of my round,” Bedi said.

“Even though it’s not reflecting in my scores, my game has been trending well of late. It’s now a matter of putting it all together this week.”

Sri Lankan Thangaraja, 38^th on the merit list produced seven birdies and a bogey during his 65 to share the opening day honours.

The three Jamshedpur-based professionals, Karan Taunk (72), Digvijay Singh (74) and Kurush Heerjee (78) were tied 45^th, tied 54^th and tied 60^th respectively.

Also read: Tata Steel Tour C’ship tees off in Jamshedpur on Thursday