Pune, 21-01-2014
C Muniyappa equals course record, leads in round one of Final Qualifying Stage
C Muniyappa of Bangalore equaled the course record with a sizzling eight-under-63 to establish a three-stroke lead in round one of the PGTI’s Final Qualifying Stage for the 2014 season being held at the Poona Club Golf Course in Pune. K Raghav Bhandari of Chandigarh shot a five-under-66 to be placed second.
Muniyappa equaled the course record, previously set by Vijay Kumar, Chikkarangappa and the late S Madaiah, with his opening round of 63 that included nine birdies and a bogey. The Bangalore lad, a former Indian Open champion, drove the green on the ninth and 17th, both par-4s, to set up birdies. He also converted a 15-footer for birdie on the eighth.
Muniyappa said, “I was in great form with the driver. I capitalized on two of the shorter par-4s by driving the greens. I just kept taking my chances today. I’m almost back to full recovery from my back injury which had troubled me over a long period of time. Equaling the course record in the first round is a huge morale-booster.”
Chandigarh’s K Raghav Bhandari fired a five-under-66 that featured six birdies and a bogey to be placed second.
Rahul Bakshi, another Chandigarh-based golfer, was a stroke behind Bhandari in third position.
Saurabh Bhaduri of Pune is in joint fourth place at one-under-70 along with Delhi’s Gulfam, Chandigarh’s KPS Sekhon, Raja Sardar of Kolkata and Jamshedpur’s Karan Taunk.
The top 80 players (+ ties) will make the cut after round two of the Final Qualifying Stage. At the end of round four only the top 38 players will earn full cards for the 2014 PGTI season.
About PGTI:
Formed in 2006, Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) is the recognised official body of professional golf in India. PGTI's objective is to promote professional golf in the country, as well as to give players an opportunity to be involved in the decision making on all aspects of the game. Headed by Mr. Kapil Dev (President), PGTI's governing body comprises leading Indian golf professionals. PGTI currently has over 300 members.
For information on PGTI, please contact:
Nikhil Kalaan
Media Manager - PGTI
Mobile: 9910974846
Email: media@pgtofindia.com
