Journalism of Courage
Manav Jaini of the Delhi Golf Club returned a five under 66 to establish a two-stroke lead on the opening day of the Aircel PGTI Players Championship presented by Poona Club.
Kolkatas RahilGangjee and Amardip Sinh Malik of Meerut are currently in joint second place as they shot identical scores of three under 68 at the Poona Club Golf Course on Tuesday.
Jaini,currently placed eighth on the Rolex Rankings 2010 (Order of Merit),had a slow start as he dropped a bogey on the opening 10th hole. He then rallied with a 15 feet birdie putt on the 11th to get back on track. Three more birdies followed on the 12th,15th and 17th.
A poor chip shot on the second led to the 26-year-olds second bogey of the day. Jaini,however,more than made up for it with a chip-in from the edge for birdie on the third. Two more birdies on the fifth and seventh meant he finished with a commendable five under 66.
Jaini,said,I hit it well today and was accurate off the tee. My strategy was to be aggressive off the tee from the very outset as the fairways are narrow from the tee to the green and the rough is not easy to negotiate.
