Homeboy Ishnidh Singh Virdi capitalised on his knowledge of the course and near-benign morning conditions to take the lead on the opening day of the IGU Rotary Southern India Bio-Gen Sansera Amateur Golf Championships at the KGA course in Bengaluru on Tuesday.
The 17-year-old shot a sizzling five-under 67 to take a one-shot lead over Aarya Sharma and Harjai Milkha Singh, who both returned identical 68s. The duo of Anas Khan and Krish Chawla sat another stroke back, just one ahead of local lad Tanish R Gowda (70). The fancied Ribhav Verma and Prince Bainsla shot one-under 71 each, holding a one-stroke advantage over Ranveer Mitroo and Milind MG.
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Although not as solid as he would have liked off the tee, Virdi more than made up for it with his iron-play and a red-hot putter. The teenager, who is chasing his maiden amateur victory, needed a mere 23 putts for the round, holing some amazing long attempts.
Ishnidh’s drop shot costs him
If not for a dropped shot on the closing hole, he would otherwise have been sitting on a two-shot cushion. Virdi found the left rough with his drive on the 18th hole and was short of the green on the left following a 3-iron second shot from about 230 yards. He chipped 13 feet past the pin, and the lone blemish was the result of an unfortunate lip-out.
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Virdi holed a 19-footer for birdie on the first, a 16-foot birdie putt on the fifth and took the turn at three-under with another birdie on the ninth hole. He picked up shots on the 11th, 12th — where he holed a 17-footer from the fringe — and the 16th hole to finish with a 67.
Aarya, a 10th-tee starter, made birdies on the 10th, 13th and 17th hole. The Chandigarh lad eagled the fifth hole with a brilliant 3-wood second shot to within a foot of the pin. His lone bogey came on the sixth hole, where he three-putted from 20 feet.
Leading scores (after 18 holes): 67: Ishnidh Singh Virdi; 68: Aarya Sharma, Harjai Milkha Singh; 69: Anas Khan, Krish Chawla; 70: Tanish R Gowda; 71: Ribhav Verma, Prince Bainsla; 72: Ranveer Mitroo, Milind MG.
