Mohd Azhar leads by one in Pune

Hyderabad’s Mohd Azhar produced a flawless display of ball-striking and putting to card a superb seven-under 64 and take the opening-round lead at the ₹1 crore Poona Club Open, being played at the Poona Club Golf Course in Pune.

PGTI Order of Merit leader Yuvraj Sandhu was a stroke behind after a six-under 65, while Veer Ahlawat of Gurugram, the 2024 PGTI Rankings champion, followed with a five-under 66 to occupy third place.

Among local players, Akshay Damale, Aaron Rockey, Aditya Bhandarkar, Adityaa Garg, and amateur Arkin Patel were the best-placed Pune golfers, carding even-par 71s to sit tied-29th.

Azhar, currently 23rd on the PGTI Order of Merit, has been in fine form with four top-10s in his last six starts. Reflecting on his round, he said,

“I hit a lot of fairways and kept it close to the flags all day. My chipping and putting were excellent, especially from the 14th hole onwards. It’s been a much better season for me, and I’m looking to build on this momentum.”

Sandhu’s 65 included eight birdies and two bogeys, while Ahlawat’s 66 featured six birdies and one bogey as both stayed well within striking distance heading into Round Two.