Bengaluru: Bengaluru’s M. Dharma fired a seven-under-65 to take the opening round lead at the PGTI Eagleburg Masters at the Eagleton Golf Resort here on Tuesday.
Shankar Das of Kolkata was on the leader’s tail with a score of six-under-66.
Bengaluru duo - Chikkarangappa and Khalin Joshi and Delhi’s Honey Baisoya were bunched together in tied third at five-under-67.
M Dharma, a winner on the PGTI back in 2013, stamped his authority on Day 1. Currently lying seventh in the Rolex Ranking, Dharma had a productive front-nine where he made four birdies and a bogey. The bogey on the 10th didn’t seem to unsettle the 30-year-old as he roared back with five straight birdies from the 11th to the 15th.
With few days of pratice, former Rolex Ranking champion Shankar, who managed to recover from fever, made waves in the opening round with seven birdies and a bogey.
Chikkarangappa fired an error-free 65 at his home course to end the day in tied third. Fellow Bengalurean Khalin Joshi and Delhi’s Honey Baisoya shared the third spot with Chikka.
Rahil Gangjee and Udayan Mane, two more Bengaluru-based professionals, were in tied sixth at four-under-68 along with Vipin Raghuvanshi of Mhow.
