Indian Golf visited new heights at the Delhi Golf cousre with seven Indian Golfers making their way in the top 15 in Panasonic Open. Ajeetesh Sandhu and Tapy Ghai rode the crest of success shot scores of five-under-67 at the Delhi Golf Club (DGC) on Thursday to be placed tied second.

 

 

 

 

                                                    Ajeetesh Sandhu at the Panasonic Open 2018

 

 

The lead was held by Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai at six-under-66.

 

 

While Bangladesh’s Md Siddikur Rahman (67) also took a share of second, the other Indians who enjoyed a strong start at the US$400,000 event were Veer Ahlawat and Rashid Khan in tied fifth with scores of 68 and Jeev Milkha Singh, Kapil Kumar and Karandeep Kochhar in tied ninth with scores of 69.

 

 

 

 

 

Ajeetesh Sandhu, a winner on the Asian Tour last year, was quick off the blocks collecting three birdies on the front nine at the cost of one bogey. The man with two top-10s in Asia this year then stepped on the gas on the back nine as he gathered four more birdies in exchange for a single bogey.

 

 

 

Interestingly, the 30-year-old’s day one performance was reminiscent of his first round show last year when he had taken the lead with an eight-under-64.

 

 

Gurgaon-based Tapy Ghai, who bagged his maiden professional title on the PGTI earlier this month, carried his form to the DGC as he mixed seven birdies with two bogeys. The 22-year-old made a couple of birdie conversions from a range of 12 to 20 feet.

 

 

Ghai said, “When you score seven birdies it’s always a good round. All the aspects of my game were in good shape today. I had clarity of mind and didn’t have any doubts during my round so that helped.

 

 

“I’ve drawn a lot of confidence from my first professional win which was achieved on the PGTI earlier this month in Ahmedabad. That win has helped me break some mental barriers. I feel like a different player now. “As a junior I’ve played a lot of golf at the DGC as it was my home course at the time before I moved to Gurgaon. I’m quite familiar with the DGC so that is another advantage I enjoy this week.

 

 

“I recovered well from the bushes to make my first birdie of the day on the 10th. The momentum just continued thereafter as I hit a terrific tee shot on the 12th that set up a seven-foot birdie putt. Then I also had a 20-feet birdie conversion on the 14th.

 

 Defending champion Shiv Kapur carded a 70 to be tied 16th.

 

 

 

Getting more kids into Golf

 

 

 

 

 

                                               Khalin Joshi at the Panasonic Open

 

 

In an exclusive interaction with 4moles.com, talented Golfer Khalin Joshi, enthused, “It’s important to attract kids into the game of Golf. The key to keeping your children entertained is to keep the game short. Maybe a 9-hole tournament can help! More Golf clinics, with lots of fun elements, should be organised to lure the kids into the game of Golf.”

 

 

A sumptuous meal for Thai Golfers!

 

 

 

 

We caught up Thailand Golfers Danthai Boonma and Tirawat Kaewsiribandit enjoying a sumptuous meal and sharing some lighter moments at the Delhi Golf Club.