Monga in lead with four-under at DGC

She shot five birdies — on the 3rd ,11th ,14th ,15th and 18th — while 16 th and 17th holes were par,the only blemish being a bogey on the 4th.

“I’m still shaking,I had shot two-under several times but this is definitely my best on any golf course. The course was playing so well that I could convert my shots into birdies. Usually when I’m under par I drop my end shots but today I shot a birdie on the last hole. I just hope I can repeat the performance tomorrow,” 16-year-old Gauri told Sportline after her first round performance of four under par 68.

On a day of surprises,Vani Kapoor also shot a one-under 71 — a score which could have been better had she not fumbled on the 9th hole where she had a double bogey.

Unable to keep her calm,Vani again hit a bogey on the 10th but birdies on the 1st ,13th ,15th and 18th hole helped her take the second position. “I was quite satisfied with my performance but when I came off the course,I was surprised by Gauri’s score. But its good for me,I get more competition tomorrow and will have to work harder,” Vani said later.

And though Vani is quite in contention of the title,her Asian Games team mates Gurbani Singh and Shreya Ghei had a rough day on the course,with Gurbani lying on 8th and Shreya on 6th. A controversy regarding playing with a logo saw Tuesday’s star Gauri banned for four months during which she missed the Asian Games trial but playing amidst the full ladies’ team here,she showed no signs of remorse. “I don’t think about it anymore,its India’s loss,not mine,” she says.

And while some players were headed to the poolside spa after the round,Gauri was seen rushing to a fashion show rehearsal in her school only to be be back to the green on Wednesday morning.