Bangalore, 29-10-2014

Bangalore boys dominate round one of TAKE Solutions India Masters

Chikkarangappa leads the charge with a sizzling 64

Chikkarangappa S of Bangalore took the round one lead at the Asian Development Tour’s TAKE Solutions India Masters with a sizzling eight-under-64 at his home course, Eagleton – The Golf Resort. Thailand’s Pijit Petchkasem ended the day in second place with an opening round of 65 while another Bangalorean Abhishek Jha was a further shot behind in third place at the US$ 70,000 event. 

Khalin Joshi and M Dharma were the other two Bangalore golfers in the top-5. Joshi and Dharma shot scores of 67 to be tied fourth along with Deepinder Singh Kullar of Gurgaon and Irishman Niall Turner.

Chikkarangappa, a three-time winner on the PGTI, began the tournament with an error-free 64 to emerge as a major contender for the title. The 20-year-old had a relatively quiet front-nine as he collected two birdies. The local favourite then went on the rampage on the back-nine with six more birdies. Chikka holed it from a range of 10 to 15 feet for birdies on the 11th, 12th, 14th and 16th.

Chikka said, “I had a decent start but gained momentum after the turn. I putted really well and grabbed all my chances on the greens with just 26 putts for the day. I read the greens to perfection. I also scored birdies on all four par-5s. This is my best round here at Eagleton in a professional event.

“My putting let me down in the last few events on the PGTI. I therefore made some changes in my putting this week. The changes seem to have paid off,” added Chikka.

“It’s been an emotional time for me since I lost my grandfather last week. When I came back to Bangalore this week, my mother and grandmother spoke to me and asked me to focus on my game and look ahead as that is what my grandfather would’ve liked me to do had he been around,” said Chikka.

Pijit Petchkasem, the only foreigner in the top-3, came up with an astonishing nine birdies against a lone double-bogey to be placed second at seven-under-65.

Abhishek Jha, also playing at his home course, mixed an eagle and six birdies with two bogeys to occupy third place at six-under-66. Jha, the tallest player on the PGTI at 6 feet and 5 inches, had a terrific start to the event as he made eagle on the opening 10th hole. His approach from 185 yards landed within two feet of the flag on the 10th. He also had three straight birdies from the first through the third. Abhishek narrowly missed his second eagle of the day from 12 feet on the eighth.

“The eagle at the start set up the round for me. I hit almost all greens today and matched my best single-round score at Eagleton. Today’s round was also my best of the season. I’ve not had a great season on the PGTI till now and this effort has really boosted my confidence. Hopefully I can capitalize on this good start,” said Jha.

The Bangalore duo of Khalin Joshi and M Dharma made six birdies and a bogey each in their rounds to share fourth place along with Gurgaon’s Deepinder Singh Kullar and Ireland’s Niall Turner at five-under-67. Kullar had eight birdies, a bogey and a double-bogey in his first round.

Abhishek Kuhar of Gurgaon was in joint eighth along with Thai Suppakorn Uthaipat at four-under-68.

Two-time European Tour champion SSP Chowrasia occupies tied 46th place at two-over-74.