Lucknow, 15-10-2013

Bhoop Singh's phenomenal nine-under-63 gives him the round one lead

Sheeraz Kalra and Manoj Kumar share second place with scores of 65

Lucknow’s Bhoop Singh fired a phenomenal nine-under-63 to take the lead in the opening round of the Ansal API Feeder Tour Championship presented by The Palms Golf Club – Sushant Golf City. Two other Lucknow-based professionals Sheeraz Kalra and Manoj Kumar posted scores of seven-under-65 to be placed joint second.

Bhoop Singh, who hails from the Lucknow Golf Club, shot an outstanding 63 featuring eleven birdies against two bogeys, in PGTI’s inaugural tournament at The Palms Golf Club. Singh landed it within five feet of the flag for birdie on four occasions. The 42-year-old also made four birdie conversions from a range of eight to 10 feet besides three good chip-putts for birdies. Singh had a run of four straight birdies from the 12^th to the 15^th.

Singh said, “I’m delighted to have posted a nine-under in my first ever round at The Palms Golf Club. I made all putts today and chipped well. I also hit it extremely close on a few occasions. I now need to capitalize on this dream start in order to stay in contention till the end. I’ve not had a good season so far and I’d like to change that with a good finish here.”

Sheeraz Kalra and Manoj Kumar, both playing at their home course, shot scores of 65 to be tied second.

Sheeraz made an eagle, seven birdies and two bogeys in his round. Kalra sank a mammoth 60-feet eagle putt on the sixth and also converted two birdie putts from a range of 15 to 20 feet.

Manoj’s round also included an eagle, seven birdies and two bogeys. He sank a 20-footer for eagle on the sixth and had a brilliant run of four straight birdies from the 12^th to the 15^th.

K Raghav Bhandari of Chandigarh and Gurgaon’s Shubhankar Sharma are in tied fourth place at six-under-66.

S Muthu of Coimbatore made a hole-in-one on the 14^th during his round of two-over-74. He is currently in tied 52^nd place.