Rashid Khan opened with a strong 6-under 66 to take the first-round lead at the US$300,000 Indorama Ventures Golf Championship at Kalhaar Blues & Greens Golf Club in Ahmedabad.
The Delhi-based pro mixed seven birdies with a lone bogey to hold a one-shot advantage after the opening day.
American Jhared Hack, winner of the season’s opening event, sits second after a 5-under 67 that featured six birdies and a bogey.
Five players — Arjun Prasad, Brijesh Kumar, Saptak Talwar, Manav Bais and Kartik Singh — share third place after returning 4-under 68s.
Rashid began steadily with two birdies and a bogey on the back nine before catching fire on the front, adding five birdies to surge to the top of the leaderboard.
“The course is playing great and the pin positions were tricky,” Rashid said. “I managed to create chances by placing the ball well and making some good putts.”
Among the overseas players, Frenchmen Clement Sordet and Pierre Pineau, along with Austria’s Christoph Bleier, opened with 3-under 69 to sit tied eighth.
Ahmedabad-based Aditya Raj Kumar Chauhan produced the best local score of the day with a 2-under 70 to be tied 15th.
Pre-tournament favourites Veer Ahlawat (71) and Yuvraj Sandhu (73) were placed tied 22nd and tied 41st respectively.
With one round complete, Rashid holds the early edge as the field looks to close the gap heading into round two in Ahmedabad.
Photo – PGTI
