Kolkata Dec 21 (IANS) Shubhankar Sharma fresh from his maiden international win at the Joburg Open last week lived up to the tag of being the pre-tournament favourite at the PGTI s season-ending McLeod Russel Tour Championship with a scorching opening round of six-under-66 that gave him the lead.
Bengaluru s Rahil Gangjee playing at his former home course the Royal Calcutta Golf Club (RCGC) and Rashid Khan of Delhi also got off to impressive starts with scores of five-under-67 to share second place at the PGTI s season-ending event worth Rs. 1.5 crore.
Shubhankar 21 continued his good form with a top-class 66 at the RCGC.
Shubhankar s accurate hitting ensured he kept landing it close to the pin on the front-nine where he had five birdies and a bogey.
Sharma sank his longest putt of the day a 30-footer for birdie on the 10th and followed that up with another birdie on the 11th to move to six-under.
He then made pars all the way till the end. He signed off with a brilliant chip-putt to save par on the 18th.
"I couldn t have asked for a better start to the week. I was four-under after nine and six-under after 11 holes. I ve been striking it well and of course the confidence is high after two good weeks in Asia. I feel with my current state of mind even if I hit a few bad shots I m confident enough to still shoot a low number " Shubhankar told reporters later.
Veteran Gangjee now a Bengalurean fired a bogey-free 67 to make a grand start to the week in his original home Kolkata.
Gangjee who retained his Asian Tour card by a narrow margin after finishing 60th in the Order of Merit last week sank two 25-footers for birdies on Thursday along with a 20-footer for par on the 13th.
Rashid the joint course record holder at RCGC courtesy his 63 at the 2014 McLeod Russel Tour Championship mixed six birdies with a bogey for his 67. Rashid tapped-in for birdie on the ninth and chipped-in for another birdie on the 13th.
Among the foreign players in the field Japan s Yuwa Kosaihira and Sri Lankan N Thangaraja were the highest-placed in tied fourth at 69 along with Delhi s Sachin Baisoya and Patna s Aman Raj.
Local favourite SSP Chawrasia carded a 71 to be tied 12th while Chandigarh s Ajeetesh Sandhu was a further shot back in tied 20th.
Jyoti Randhawa s first round 73 placed him tied 27th.
--IANS
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