Chawrasia shoots 73 in Portugal

Report by Anand Datla

March 20, 2015: SSP Chawrasia got off to a sedate start in the first round of the Madeira Islands Open in Portugal. The course at the Clube de Golf do Santo da Serra proved to be a stiff challenge for the seasoned Indian who settled for one over 73 to remain just inside the top 50.

The tournament has been truncated to a 54 hole event after gusting winds rendered play impossible on the first day. Even the second day saw some rough weather, with winds continuing to blow hard for a second day running.

Chawrasia showed immense grit and determination during the course of his round. The India failed to make even a single fairway – zero for fourteen. But he scrambled well making 16 of 18 from those to complete a respectable recovery from often dangerous positions.

He needed five shots at the par-4 14th and six at the par-5 16th holes, after making his start at the tenth hole. Chawrasia made the turn having surrendered those two shots to the course in 38 shots.

Alert to the dangers lurking on the wind swept course, Chawrasia played a far more compact game on his way back from the first through ninth holes. His lone birdie of the day came at the par-5 third hole.

But he failed to make any further impact as he signed off with six consecutive pars to end the day at one-over 73.

With the round still in progress, Joachim Hansen was the leader after he made a blemish free 68 with two birdies on either side.