Rafiq, Pappan blast four under

April 15: Rafiq Ali and Pappan registered similar cards of four-under 66 to lead the field on the opening day of the LMG-Patna Open golf tournament here today. The par for the course is 70. D K Verma and Mukesh Kumar share the third place with three under 67.

Rafiq Ali started with a flourish with a hat-trick of birdies on the first three holes and he went on to finish three under for the fiirst nine. Rafiq missed a birdie on the 11th and then on the 12th an eagle putt lipped out and the same run continued when on the 13th the ball lipped out once again and this time he missed a hole-in-one. Rafiq finally ended four under on a day, when he could well have been nine or 10 under.

Delhi based Pappan also had a great run on the front nine with four birdies and he also hit very well.

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Ravi Kataruka was the leader in the amateur section scoring four over 74 followed by Roshan Sharan at six over 76 and col. D B S Rangi at nine over 79.

Scores (after 18 holes):66: Rafiq Ali and Pappan; 67: Mukesh Kumar and D K Verma; 68: Jumman, Akbar Ali, Dinesh Kumar; 70: Ajay Yadav, Asgar Ali, Nawab Mohd and Shiv Prakash.

Amateurs:74: Ravi Kataruka; 76: Roshan Sharma; 79: Col. B S Rangi.