SCORESHEET

October 29th 2009, Jamshedpur: Pune’s Gurki Shergill launched his campaign at the 8th TATA OPEN with a spectacular six under 64 at the Golmuri Golf Course to be placed at the top of the leaderboard. Sujjan Singh of Chandigarh fired an equally impressive bogey-free six under 66 at the Beldih Golf Course to be the joint leader along with Shergill. Defending champion Shamim Khan of Delhi and Meerut’s Amardip Sinh Malik share third place, having posted identical scores of five under 65 at Golmuri.

On Thursday one half of the field played its 18 holes on the par 72 Beldih Golf Course while the golfers in the other half completed their rounds at the par 70 Golmuri Golf Course. On Friday both halves of the field will switch venues (those who played at Beldih on day one, play eighteen holes at Golmuri on day two and vice-versa).

Gurki Shergill

Gurki Shergill’s first round effort of 64 was punctuated by seven birdies and a lone bogey. He birdied the fifth and seventh and bogeyed the eighth to be one under after eight holes. Gurki then hit a purple patch as he made four consecutive birdies from the ninth through the 12th. The conversion of a 40-footer for birdie on the 17th provided the ‘icing on the cake’ for Shergill.

“I’m really pleased with my score today. I had a very solid run from the ninth to the 12th today. Those four successive birdies were the highlight of my round. While on the ninth and 11th I knocked-in putts from 10 and 13 feet respectively, on the 10th it was my excellent tee shot that came up just four feet short and set up an easy birdie. I narrowly missed an eagle on the 12th, as my chip from the edge of the green hit the flag-stick,” said Shergill.

He added, “I closed with a good par on the 18th, where I almost chipped-in. The greens are rolling well at Golmuri and the course is in even better shape than last time. I enjoyed myself out there today and hope to keep the momentum going for the rest of the week.”

Sujjan Singh couldn’t have asked for a better start to his round as he earned four birdies on the first six holes. He then hit his four-iron tee shot to within 10 feet on the 10th to go to five under. Sujjan closed his round in great fashion as his second shot on the 18th landed within a few inches of the pin and led to yet another birdie.

Sujjan Singh

Sujjan said, “I had a tremendous start today as I was four under through six holes. I hit it quite close on a number of occasions, especially on the 18th. It’s a great start to the event but I’m a little disappointed about not grabbing some birdie opportunities today. On the 12th I hit my third shot (nine-iron) to within two feet and then missed the birdie putt.”

Shamim Khan and Amardip Sinh Malik shot scores of 65 at Golmuri to share third place. Rafick Ali Mollah of Kolkata turned in a 66 at the same venue end the day in lone fifth.

Local amateur Karan Taunk had a decent outing at Golmuri. He returned a three under 67 courtesy of five birdies and two bogeys to be in sixth place.

Mukesh Kumar, who is currently ranked second on the Aircel PGTI Order of Merit and is a former champion at the Tata Open, posted a two under 68 at Golmuri to be placed tied seventh.

Jamshedpur-based professional Navtez Singh carded an even par 72 at Beldih to occupy tied 16th position.