Hyderabad, 25-02-2016
Ajeetesh Sandhu sets the bar with opening 62 at Golconda Masters
Abhijit Singh Chadha two off the pace
Chandigarh’s Ajeetesh Sandhu set the bar at an imposing nine-under-62 in round one of the Golconda Masters 2016 being played at the Hyderabad Golf Club (HGC). Abhijit Singh Chadha, another Chandigarh-based professional, ended the day in second place, two strokes behind the leader at seven-under-64 at the Rs. 40 lakh event.
Ajeetesh Sandhu came up with an error-free 62 to announce himself as a contender this week. The 28-year-old Ajeetesh, a winner on the PGTI back in 2012, was striking the ball to perfection as he capitalized on three of the four par-5s and also landed it within six feet of the pin on four occasions. Sandhu left himself only two long putts on the opening day, both of which he sank for birdies on the 18th and fourth. He thus set the course record at HGC which is being played as a par-71 course for the first time in a professional event.
Ajeetesh had finished the 2015 PGTI season at 16th place in the Rolex Rankings courtesy two top-10s which included a tied second. He was last in contention during an event in Mumbai in December last year where he finally secured tied seventh place. Sandhu, who had missed the cut at the inaugural edition of the Golconda Masters, has now entered this year’s tournament with a new putter seeking a reversal of fortune.
Ajeetesh said, “I had a torrid time with the putter at the last event so I borrowed my friend and fellow professional C Muniyappa’s putter this week as the same model had worked for me earlier. I’ve been striking it well for a while now but today I also made the putts that mattered.
“I’ll have to continue attacking over the next three days as a lead doesn’t mean much on this course with a lot of birdies to be had out there. It’s been over three years since I last won a title so I’m itching for a win now.
“I’ve made some changes in my equipment, both woods and irons, over the last six months and it’s taken a while to adjust to those changes. I feel quite settled with my equipment now and confident of doing well this week.”
Abhijit Singh Chadha, who only recently recovered from a minor back injury, put together an eagle, seven birdies and two bogeys in his first round. He chipped-in from over the green for eagle on the eighth.
Chadha, a two-time winner on the PGTI, said, “It’s my first event of the PGTI season and my first event here at HGC since I didn’t play the Golconda Masters last year. In that context, it’s a great start to the week. I feel I’m back to full fitness and eager to do well here.”
Anura Rohana, runner-up at last week’s PGTI event in Bengaluru, continued his hot streak with a quality round of six-under-65. The 42-year-old seasoned pro from Colombo nailed seven birdies at the expense of just one bogey to occupy third place.
Mandeo Singh Pathania of the Jaypee Greens Golf Resort, Greater Noida, had the distinction of firing two eagles, on the sixth and eighth, both par-5s, during his round of 66, that placed him tied fourth. Pathania landed his approach two feet from the flag on the sixth before chipping-in on the eighth.
Gurgaon-based Shubhankar Sharma shared fourth place with Pathania after shooting a round that featured six birdies and a bogey.
Defending champion Harendra Gupta of Chandigarh was off to a steady start with a three-under-68 to be tied 11th. He made six straight birdies from the sixth to the 11th and narrowly missed a seventh consecutive birdie.
Hyderabad-based professional H Sunil Kumar made a hole-in-one on the seventh at his home course. He ended the day in tied 105th with a round of six-over-77. Sanjay Kumar Singh, the other professional from Hyderabad, was placed tied 66th at two-over-73.
About PGTI:
Formed in 2006, Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) is the recognised official body of professional golf in India. PGTI's objective is to promote professional golf in the country, as well as to give players an opportunity to be involved in the decision making on all aspects of the game. Headed by Mr. Srinivasan H R (President), PGTI's governing body comprises leading Indian golf professionals. PGTI currently has over 300 members.
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