Bengaluru, Feb 11: Aman Raj following up on his runner-up finish a week ago, shot seven-under-65 to take the first round lead the TATA Steel PGTI Players Championship 2020 presented by Eagleton – The Golf Resort. Asian Tour regular Aman had eight birdies against one bogey and leads by two shots.
Bengaluru’s S Chikkarangappa and Gurugram-based Veer Ahlawat were tied second with rounds of five-under-67 each in the second event of the 2020 TATA Steel PGTI season.
Eight players including Himmat Singh Rai, former winner on Asian Tour, and last week’s winner, Udayan Mane were tied-fourth with rounds of 68 each.
Star attraction Shubhankar Sharma, also the highest ranked player thtis week, made a quiet start with a one-over-73 to be placed tied 54th.
The 24-year-old, Aman Raj rode on a hot putter as he made good several puttsbetween eight and 10 feet. After being two-under through the front-nine, including a 25-feet birdie conversion on the fifth.
Aman sizzled on thee back-nine with five birdies, while missing eagle putts on the par-5s 10th and 15th.
Aman who is playing a pro event at Eagleton only for the second time, said, “I’m very happy with my round today. It was a good putting day for me and I feel I’m carrying forward the momentum from last week.
“I had a couple of good breaks and I dropped just one bogey today. I had a good putting stretch on the 15th, 16th and 17th but was a little disappointed to miss a chance on the 18th. I’m now looking forward to building on this terrific start.”
While Chikkarangappa produced a flawless 67, Veer Ahlawat made an eagle, four birdies and a bogey during his 67.
Pune’s Udayan Mane, who won PGTI’s last two events, was bunched in tied fourth along with seven other golfers at four-under-68.Bengaluru’s Khalin Joshi was a further stroke behind in tied 12th.
Shubhankar Sharma’s round of 73 featured a birdie and two bogeys. It placed him joint 54th.
Bengaluru-based Viraj Madappa, the joint runner-up in Hyderabad last week, struck a 74 to be tied 64th.
Read also:
Shubhankar Sharma returns to domestic Tour for PGTI Players Champs at Eagleton
Mane continues winning run; opens 2020 with win at Golconda Masters; Madappa, Aman 2nd
