Rahil Gangjee & Jyoti Randhawa make solid start in Moscow

Rahil Gangjee and Jyoti Randhawa make a fine start at the Russian Open in Moscow. Both men shot 68 to lie T13 after 18 holes.

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Report by Anand Datla

September 03, 2015: The Indians had it good in the first round of the Russian Open. Rahil Gangjee and Jyoti Randhawa, both making a rare appearance on the European Tour shot an efficient 68 each to end the first day in Moscow lying T13 after 18 holes. The Indian Open runner-up SSP Chawrasia will be disappointed to have signed on a 72, but after a 74 on Thursday, Khalin Joshi has his back against the wall with the cut looming on Friday.

Daniel Gaunt failed to make the cut last week, but that did not deter him from making two birdies in the final three holes to join Scott Jamieson in the lead at the end of the first round of the Russian Open.

Young man Joshi made four birdies on the day, but a double bogey at the 168 yard par-3 fourth hole and five other bogeys dented any chance of a decent return from his efforts on Thursday.

Gaganjeet Bhullar was the biggest disappointment on the day. The tired looking golfer from Punjab shot a miserable 9-over 80 at all but pack his bags for an early exit this week.

Chawrasia made three birdies over a four hole stretch early on in the day, but melted away into the distance as the round progressed toward to the end. The golfer from Kolkata surrendered shots at the 8th, 9th and 15th holes to slip down T71 at one over 72. He will need to gain some ground early on Friday to avoid missing the cut.

Neither Randhawa nor Gangjee had any such problems. Randhawa sandwiched all of his birdies between a bogey at the second and another at the 15th hole. In between those slips though, he made five birdies – two on the front nine and three on the back nine to sign off at a healthy looking three under 68.

Gangjee was keeping his compatriot company among a large group of sixteen golfers who are all tied in 13th. The ebullient man from Kolkata showed some early promise keeping nearly clean through a steady round of golf. Gangjee shot four birdies on the first day – two on either side of his march around the course. The lone blemish on his card came in the form of a bogey at the par-5 5th hole.

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