Hyderabad: Sri Lankan golfer K. Prabagaran fired an eight-under 62 to take the lead after the first round of the PGTI Golconda Masters golf tournament at the Hyderabad Golf Course here on Thursday. Meanwhile, big ticket Indian names S. Chikkarangappa and Gaganjeet Bhullar began the tournament tied 12th and 26th respectively. Prabagaran made a flawless start by sinking two eagles, on the par-4 fifth and sixth holes, one birdie (eighth hole) and saving six pars over the course of the first nine holes.
A lone bogey, on the 13th hole, threatened to mar his record, but he came back with two back-to-back birdies on the 14th and 15th, and closed out his round with yet another birdie. Prabagaran said his “outstanding” round has given him the confidence to play well in the rest of the tournament. “It was an outstanding round. My driving and approach shots were brilliant,” said Prabagaran, a PGTI winner last year.
Sharing second place are Prabagaran’s compatriot Anura Rohana and Shamim Khan on 63. Tamim scored 10 pars and a bogey, but hit back with an outstanding six birdies and an eagle (on the sixth hole), while Anura also sank an eagle (on the sixth) and shrugged off his two bogeys with eight pars and seven birdies.
Chikka struggled to maintain consistency, with a bogey each on the second, third, seventh and 14th holes. His six birdies and eight pars kept him afloat. He shares the 12th spot with six golfers. Meanwhile, Bhullar had an ordinary start, with 14 pars to his credit. A birdie and an eagle were cancelled out by a bogey and a double bogey as Bhullar scored an even-par 70 to occupy the 26th position alongside seven other golfers.
