17 October 2019: Golf has a special place in the hearts and minds of those that inhabit the North Indian city of Chandigarh. A runner-up finish in the inaugural edition must have left Karandeep Kochhar both hungry and hopeful as the field made their way to the Chandigarh Golf Club for the second edition of the Jeev Milkha Singh Invitational.
The 20-year-old got off to a stellar start, producing a 7-under 65 to throw down the gauntlet. Om Prakash Chouhan and Himmat Rai were close on his heels, chasing from one shot back. Hole-in-ones for N Thangaraja, who got off to a 67 and Martendeya Kanishka Sinha also brought smiles on the faces on the golfers and the patrons at the club.
The host and legendary Jeev Milkha Singh did a great job balancing his duties on and off the course with a steady handed 72.
But the day belonged to Karandeep. He got out of the gates like a man possessed, firing four birdies in the first six holes. The lone blemish on his card came on the 17th where he made bogey after a brilliant putt to save par on the previous hole. But the young man finished with a birdie on the 18th to address the loss and make the turn on his own terms.
S Chikkarangappa, the champion last year, had a disappointing start. He made a 73 alongside Aadil Bedi, the duo sitting in T55.
