Abhijit Chadha takes pole position at LG Gujarat Open

AHMEDABAD - Abhijit Chadha posted the only under-par round of the day to emerge as the sole leader after the first round of the LG Gujarat Open at the par-72 Kensville Golf Club here Tuesday.

Chadha carded a round of one-under 71 to open up a one-shot lead. Punes Aditya Bhandarkar and Delhi lad Pawan Kumar were placed second, one back at level-par for the tournament after both players returned identical rounds of even-par 72.

Karan Vasudeva was placed fourth at two-over 74 while Chandigarh youngster Angad Cheema was one back at three-over 75.

But the day belonged to Chadha, who started off positively and played an aggressive brand of golf to take the outright lead on day one. He had three birdies and two bogeys in his round, dropping one shot each on the front and back nine.

Chadha, a Chandigarh Golf Club player is still chasing his first win on tour and would look to improve on his performance here.

Pawan Kumar got off to an inauspicious start with a double bogey on the fourth hole. But the youngster bounced right back with two straight birdies to get to level par once again. On the back-nine he had another bogey-birdie run on the 11th and 12th but a run of six straight pars after that ensured that he finished level for the day.

Aditya Bhandarkar too had a good outing but for bogeys on the first and last hole which came as a result of three-putts. He said: It is disappointing to have finished like that but I am happy with the way I played.