Chawrasia lies fifth in Oman with 68 in first round
Muscat, Oman, Feb 27: SSP Chawrasia playing his first European Tour event in 2020, opened with a solid four-under 68 that placed him in Top-five at the Open at the Al Mouj Golf Club on Thursday. Chawrasia, who was T-22 and T-32 in his two Asian Tour starts in Hong Kong and Singapore in January, also came fourth at the European Tour Qualifying School, but still did not get into any one of the three events in the Middle East swing.
Chawrasia, a four-time winner on European Tour and two-time winner of the Hero Indian Open, which is scheduled next month, started from the back nine and had two birdies on the Par-5 12thand Par-5 16thto turn in two-under. He added a third birdie on second, but dropped a shot on fourth. He added birdies on sixth and eighth to finish at four-under.
The other two Indians in the field had a rough start, as both Shubhankar Sharma and Gaganjeet Bhullar, carded two-over 74 each and are Tied-101st.
Italian Guido Migliozzi had a bogey free six-under 66 as he held a one-shot lead over Brandon Stone, Rasmus Hojgaard and Lee Taehee, who carded 67 each.
Chawrasia was one of the seven players at four-under and the group includes defending Hero Indian Open champion Stephen Gallacher and Andy Sullivan.
FULL REPORT –
Chawrasia lies 5th in Oman with 68 in Round 1; Sharma, Bhullar way behind
Kapur and Khalin best Indians at 44tth; teen Joohyung Kim leads
Queenstown, New Zealand, February 27: It was a disappointing day for the Indians, as only Shiv Kapur and Khalin Joshi shot even par 71 each in the opening round of the 101st New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport on Thursday.
Korea’s Joohyung Kim, who pipped Kapur to win his maiden Asian Tour title at the Panasonic Open last year in India, underlined his growing stature as he took the opening round lead with a seven-under-par 64. Kapur and Joshi were T-44th.
Among other Indians Ajeetesh Sandhu and Viraj Madappa shot one-over 72 each to be T-60th. Aman Raj and Chiragh Kumar carded 74 each and were T-105th.
Kapur was three-over after seven, but did well to get back even par by the end of the day, while Joshi had two birdies and two bogeys in his 71.
Australia’s Ben Eccles, who received a late entry after being a reserve for the tournament, also showed his good form by signing for a 65 to share second place with compatriots Wade Ormsby and Brad Kennedy.
FULL REPORT
Kapur and Khalin best Indians at 44tth; teen Joohyung Kim leads
Diksha Dagar lying fifth in NSW Open, two shots behinds leaders
Dubbo, NSW, Australia, Feb 27: India’s 19-year-old Diksha Dagar mixed seven birdies with four bogeys to card three-under 69 in the opening round of the Women’s New South Wales Open. Dagar, winner of the 2019 Investec South African Women’s Open champion, was lying Tied-fifth and two shots behind co-leaders, Scotland’s Michelle Thomson and Gemma Dryburgh, who shot 67 each in ideal scoring conditions. Both Michele and Gemma come from Aberdeen in Scotland.
The other Indians in the field include three-time LET winner, Aditi Ashok (73) in T-40tth place, Gaurika Bishnoi (74) in T-50th, Astha Madan (78) in T-113, Tvesa Malik (79) in T-127 and Ridhima Dilawari (81) in 139thplace.
Diksha, Tied-fifth at the NSW Open last year, came back with mixed feelings. She was disappointed at missing a lot of up-and-downs, but was happy with her putting. Starting with a birdie on 10th, she added another on 13thand two more on 16thand 17th, but she also dropped shots on 15tth and 18thto turn in two-under. On the second nine, she birdied third and fourth to climb to four-under, but back-to-back bogeys on sixth and seventh meant a slip downwards before she closed with a birdie for 69.
“Today I missed four up-and-downs, but my putting was good, much better,” said Dagar. “I’m hitting it long and straight, because I worked hard on my fitness, doing push ups and strengthening my shoulders and the lower parts.
FULL RPEORT –
Diksha Dagar lying fifth in NSW Open, two shots behinds leaders
Sharmila Nicollet tied-sixth at Joburg Ladies Open
Soweto, SA, February 27: Sharmila Nicollet picked up three birdies in the middle of the round enroute to one-over 73 that carried her to Tied-sixth at the end of the second round of the 500 000 Rand Joburg Ladies Open at the Soweto Country Club on the Sunshine Ladies Tour
After a four-over 76 in the first round at t
he end of which she was T-16, Sharmila shot 73 with the help of three birdies against four bogeys. Her total of five-over 149 carried her to Tied-sixth.
Sharmila is nine shots behind runaway leader, Czech player Sideri Vanova (69-71) at four-under, while Monique Smit (71-76) celebrating her birthday, was second at three-over 147.
Sharmila was tied sixth with three South Africans Tara Grienbow, Stacy Bregman and Lejan Lewthwaite at 149.
FULL REPORT
Sharmila Nicollet tied-sixth at Joburg Ladies Open
