Slender lead for Harinder Kang

CHENNAI, SEPT 15: Chandigarh's Harinder Singh Kang finished the first round on a strong note with three birdies to return the day's only ...

CHENNAI, SEPT 15: Chandigarh8217;s Harinder Singh Kang finished the first round on a strong note with three birdies to return the day8217;s only sub-par card of one-under 71 for a one stroke lead over Delhi8217;s Anitya Chand and Calcutta8217;s Rahil Ganjee in the AV Thomas Gold Cup All-India Amateur Golf Championship, at the par-72 Cosmopolitan Golf Course here on Wednesday.

In the team championships to be decided over the first two rounds, Godavari Golf Club represented by AN Gopal and L Selvadurai shot into the lead with the best joint score of 149 to be two strokes ahead of Karnataka Golf Association Gaurav Diwan and Rahul Ganapathy at 151.

The leading scores: HS Kang Chd 71, Anitya Chand Del 72, Rahil Ganjee Cal 72, KV Balachandar Chennai 74, AN Gopal Rajahmundry 74, Amish Jaitha Pune 74, Gaurav Diwan Kar 75, N Mageshwaran TN 75, Sanjeev Singh Kashmir 75, L Selvadurai Rajahmundry 75, Ashok Kumar Del 75, Simaranjeet Singh Noida 75.

Indian team

CHENNAI: The 17-year-oldupcoming talent Ashok Kumar, a plus four handicapper, Amish Jaitha, Shiv Kapur and Rahul Ganapathy will spearhead India8217;s challenge in the Singapore Amateur Open Golf Championships to be held there from Septemebr 21 to 24.

According to Indian Golf Union IGU selection committee chairman Dilip Thomas, Ashok kumar and Amish Jaitha would also be representing the country in the team championships. Surjit Dayal would be the coach-cum-manager.

Arjun, Rohtas share lead

BANGALORE: Seasoned campaigners Arjun Singh and Rohtas Singh shared the opening day8217;s honours, firing identical three-under par cards in the Wills Southern Open here today. Vijay Kumar and Yusuf Ali were a stroke behind them with a two under-par card of 70 with Harmeet Kahlon of Chandigarh, who turned a pro recently, following them with 71.

Leaders 1st round

Professionals: Arjun Singh amp; Rohtas Singh 70: Vijay Kumar amp; Yusuf Ali 71: Harmeet Kahlon 72: Jyoti Randhawa, Gast Ram, Devendra Patel 73: Basad Ali amp; Vishal Singh.Amateurs: 74: Arjun Ramesh 77: David D8217;Souza, 84: Sanjeev Mehra, 86: A Rangamoola, 86: Ved Manu Moola amp; rakesh Kumar.