Bhandari fires six-under 66

GURGAON, Aug 5: Delhi's Vivek Bhandari scorched the course with a six-under 66 to jump into early lead in the season opening Rs 15 lakh W...

GURGAON, Aug 5: Delhi8217;s Vivek Bhandari scorched the course with a six-under 66 to jump into early lead in the season opening Rs 15 lakh Wills Masters Golf Tournament at the Picturesque Classic Golf Resort here, today.

His Delhi compatriot, Gaurav Ghei sunk a two-under 70 to lie second while Calcutta8217;s Indrajit Bhalotia and Delhi8217;s Arjun Singh carded an identical one-under 71 on recovering from early setbacks on the 7,114-yard course.

On a day when lightning fast greens and treacherous roughs left the large field with its task cut out, veterans Basad Ali and his Calcutta teammate Feroze Ali alongwith Vijay Kumar of Lucknow returned creditable par-72 cards to be among the lead bunch.

Delhi chartered accountant Amit Luthra returned a superb one-under 71 to lead the fray among the amateurs, looking to book his berth for the Bangkok Asian Games. Luthra would have been much better off had he not lost two strokes on the 10th hole.

Bhandari, a promising golfer known for his tenacity, showed flawless form bysinking six birdies, recovering swiftly after a bogey in the par-four 379-yard first hole.

Two-under on the outward, he was in belligerent mood on the return sinking four birdies to blaze away to six-under. 8220;I could have even had a better card. I like the course and should perform well in the next three rounds,8221; he said.

Gaurav Ghei, who qualified to the British Open last year, was consistent though he did not look to be at his peak. I am finding my rhythm. If I putt better I should be among the top,8221; he said.

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Ghei, who started at the 10th hole could have been in a much better position but for bogeys on the seventh and 18th holes despite two birdies either way.

The roughs on the edge of the greens proved frustrating for most. 8220;If you end short of the green, the ball was just not running up,8221; said Ghei.

Bhalotia, who has one of the longest drives among Indian golfers, lost a stroke each in the fourth and fifth holes but made up with two successive birdies in the eighth and ninth. He againdropped a stroke on the return only to recover with two birdies at the fag end.

Arjun Singh bogeyed the sixth hole to turn homeward one over, but gained consistency and sunk two birdies to return one under 71 like Bhalotia.

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Amit Luthra, a proficient player who has chosen to remain an amateur, began with a double bogey in the first hole and lost a stroke in the penultimate hole, but came up with four birdies to offset them for a fine 71.

Former Indian all-rounder Kapil Dev found the going tough and carded a poor 11-over 83.

LEADING SCORES

66: Vivek Bhandari; 70: Gaurav Ghei; 71: Indrajit Bhalotia, Arjun Singh; 72: Basad Ali, Vijay Kumar, Feroze Ali; 73: Balbir Singh, Rishi Narain; 74: Vishal Singh, Chini Ali; 75: Ali Sher, Rohtas Singh, Shiv Prakash, Akbar Ali, Gast Ram, Rafiq Ali.