Hyderabad teen golfer Saatvic Kumar Singh takes a slender one-shot lead in Pune

After a horrendous start, young Saatvic Kumar Singh turned things around brilliantly to take a slender one-shot lead after the opening round of the IGU Western India Junior Boys Golf Championship at the Oxford Golf Resort in Pune on Tuesday.

Three-over after five holes, the 14-year-old from Hyderabad found his rhythm and range to shoot a gritty four-under 68, upstaging his illustrious rivals. Ayan Dubey and Jaibir Singh Kang — who like Saatvic is a Category ‘B’ (13-14 years) golfer — were tied for second with a three-under 69.

Bengaluru-lad Ishnidh Virdi takes one-shot lead over Aarya Sharma and Harjai Singh

Defending champion Shashank Sachin Gadre, competing in Category ‘A’ (15-17 years), and Aman Oswal shot one-under 71s to sit two strokes further back in a tie for fourth place.

After his chipping and putting initially let him down, Saatvic put those blemishes behind him and got down to work. He sank a 25-foot putt for birdie on the sixth and another tricky nine-footer on the ninth. A brilliant chip-in eagle from 15 yards out saw the youngster go one-under for the first time.

Saatvic, a one-time winner this season, then rode that momentum into a hat-trick of birdies from the 14^th hole to sign off in style.

Drona, Kabir tied for lead

In Category ‘C’ (11-12 years), Drona Singh Dhull and Kabir Goyal were tied for the lead with identical one-over 73 cards.

Leading scores (after 18 holes): Category ‘A’ & ‘B’ combined: 68: Saatvic Kumar Singh; 69: Ayan Dubey, Jaibir Singh Kang; 71: Shashank Sachin Gadre, Aman Oswal.

Category ‘C’ (11-12 years): 73: Drona Singh Dhull, Kabir Goyal; 75: Sohraab Singh Talwar; 78: Aviraj Singh Aulakh, Shan Alvi; 79: Vivaan Kudale.