Bhullar grabs lead in Royal Challenge golf

Chandigarh , Nov 21 (UNI) Eighteen-year-old Gaganjeet Bhullar of Kapurthala returned a two-under 70 to take the lead after the first round of the Royal Challenge Samarvir Sahi Golf Championship at the Chandigarh Golf Club here today.

Noida's Simarjeet Singh and Bangalore's Anirban Lahiri were in striking distance with rounds of one-under 71 each. Gaganjeet and Aniban are members of the Indian team which will take part in the Doha Asian Games next month.

The duo of Jasjeet Singh and Balpreet Singh Ghuman tied for the fourth place at 72 while Moin Malik was the lone sixth place at 74.

Sudhir Sharma was placed seventh at 75.

Bhullar played hear perfect golf today as he started with a par on the opening hole and then sunk a birdie on the par-five second. However, a bogey on the fourth undid the good work as he turned at level par. On his return leg, Bhullar regained form as managed birdies on the 10 th, 14th, 16th and 18th. His only blemish came on the 13th when he snapped his tee-shot out-of-bounds to register a double bogey.

Simarjeet Singh had an adventurous round. After a series of pars, he managed a bogey on the eighth to turn at one over. On the back nine, Simarjeet rolled in a 30-footer on the par-five 13 th for an eagle, dropped a shot on the 16th but added a birdie on the 17th to close in at one-under.

Lahiri, who is currently ranked No one on the Royal Challenge Order of Merit started aggressively with birdies on par-five second and par-four fourth hole but dropped a shot on the fifth to turn at one-under. On his return leg, Lahiri dropped a shot on the 11th, recovered with a birdie on the 13th and then followed it up with another bogey on the 15th, 16th and 17th before he signed off with yet another bogey.

Scores (after 18 holes): 70 Gaganjeet Bhullar; 71 Simarjeet Singh, Anirban Lahiri; 72 Jasjeet Singh, Balpreet Singh Ghuman; 74 Moin Malak; 75 Sudhir Sharma; 77 Arshdeep Tawana, Raj Randhawa, Aman Guron, Pawan Kumar; 78 Joseph Chakola, Abhishek Jha, Tarun Ghogale, Tashi Dhendup Kidwai, Karan Vasudeva, Saurabh Bahuguna.

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