DAY 1


May 12th 2010, Aamby Valley City, Maharashtra: Anirban Lahiri fired a second consecutive 65 to stamp his authority at the PGTI Players Championship presented by Aamby Valley Golf Course on Wednesday. The 2009 PGTI Order of Merit champion has now opened up an imposing seven-stroke lead as his total stands at 14 under 130. Shamim Khan and Rafick Ali Mollah are tied second with the next best total of seven under 137.

The cut was declared at four over 148. Fifty-two professionals and one amateur made the cut.

Anirban Lahiri

Anirban Lahiri (65-65) was a little slow off the blocks by his standards as he was level after the first five holes, having made birdie-bogey on the 12th and 13th. The Bangalore golfer then picked up the pace by collecting birdies on the 15th, 17th and 18th. He sank a tough 50 feet downhill putt from the left edge for birdie on the 15th.

Lahiri then followed up his birdie on the third with an immaculate eagle on the seventh where his second shot stopped one foot short of the pin. The Asian Tour regular wrapped up his round in style with yet another birdie on the ninth where he chipped it to within six inches of the flag from just short of the green.

Lahiri said, “I did not have a great start considering the fact that I didn’t capitalize on the first two par five holes, the 12th and 14th. However, the 50 feet birdie putt on the 15th got my confidence going. I made some long birdie putts on the 17th, 18th and the third to consolidate further.”

He added, “I had an exceptional second nine since I made regulations on all the holes (1 to 9) and even hit the two par five greens in two shots. My ball-striking was also excellent on the second nine. The four-iron second shot on the seventh was the high-point of my round. I hit that shot from 220 yards out into the wind and landed it one foot from the hole to set up an easy eagle putt.”

Shamim Khan (71-66) of Delhi and Rafick Ali Mollah (66-71) of Kolkata share second position at seven under 137. Shamim’s bogey-free 66 in round two propelled him from overnight tied 19th to tied second.

Bangladesh’s Mohd. Siddikur Rahman and Abhishek Jha of Bangalore lie tied fourth at six under 138.

Gurki Shergill of Pune is tied sixth at five under 139 along with Ashok Kumar of Delhi, Australian Kunal Bhasin and Bangalore golfers C Muniyappa and R Murthy.