Om Prakash Chouhan takes charge with a 63 in the Gujarat Open

A spotless 63 put Om Prakash Chouhan in the lead as the PGTI Tour swung into action with its first event of 2021 at the Kalhaar Blues & Greens Golf Club in Ahmedabad

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Om Prakash Chouhan - PGTI Tour

16 February 2021: On a thrilling day when the PGTI followed close on the heels of the WGAI in putting professional golf back on the road in 2021, Om Prakash Chouhan played with great finesse to produce a memorable 63. It was enough for a three-stroke advantage over early leaders Jairaj Singh Sandhu and Mani Ram, both of whom shot a 66 earlier in the day. The former is making his professional debut on a sponsor’s invite to the event, starting his day with a birdie on the very first hole and an ace on the par-3 eleventh, making it an unforgettable start to his fledgling career.

Jairaj Singh Sandhu - PGTI Tour
Jairaj Singh Sandhu – PGTI Tour

Chouhan started on the tenth tee, firing four straight birdies to make his intentions clear soon as he began his first round at the Kalhaar Blues and Greens Golf Club. He continued playing with great panache as he marched toward the clubhouse without conceding a single shot. In the end he kept his sheet clean as he signed off with a birdie on the ninth hole. The 34-year-old, a five time winner on the PGTI Tour, equaled the course record at Kalhaar with his 63.

The 34-year-old last recorded a victory in the Tata Open in 2018. Since then he has collected nine top-10 finishes on the Indian tour.

“I’m feeling much fitter and lighter on the course after having shed so much weight. I’ve been running a lot and controlling my diet. That’s made a big difference to my game. I had also got into a comfort zone during the lockdown and wasn’t practicing much last year but now I’m back to doing eight hours of practice a day,” said Chouhan, who is reported to have lost twelve kilos through a regimen of diet and exercise.

“My driving and iron-play was the highlight today. It was nice to have five birdies on the trot from the ninth to the 13th. My two amazing par-saves also felt like birdies. In fact, I chipped-in from 40 yards to save par on the 15th. I’ve always played well at this course as I feel it suits my game. The foundation is laid, it’s now about building from here and being consistent.”

Sumeet Chaudhary - PGTI Tour
Sumeet Chaudhary – PGTI Tour

Jairaj Sandhu and Mani Ram took a relatively circuitous route to their scores of 66. The 23-year-old Sandhu shot a hole-in-one on the par-3 eleventh hole, besides shooting eagles on the par-5 fifth and fourteenth holes. He also made four birdies but conceded two bogeys and a double on the 18th hole that dented his final score. Sumeet Chaudhary suffered an 83, but he had the consolation of making a hole-in-one on the 11th, just as Jairaj.

Mani Ram began on the tenth, made three birdies and an eagle on the 14th hole before adding four more birdies between the first the ninth holes. The 38-year-old from Karnal also endured four bogeys in an eventful opening effort.

“I was a touch nervous to begin with but I got rid of the nerves with my birdie on the first. It just kept getting better after that. I began the day thinking that I will just have fun out there. For anyone starting off as a pro it’s important to feel that you belong here. After the round I did feel like I belong to this stage. I’ll again look to enjoy myself over the next three days,” said Jairaj.

“I decided to turn professional this year as my scoring average had become quite good last year. I also worked a lot on my game and felt that I was ready for the pro ranks. This round is a huge confidence-booster for me.”

Khalin Joshi came home to rousing finish on the front nine, making five birdies in seven holes between the 2nd and 8th for a solid 67. He started his round with a bogey on the 10th and added another on the 18th but he also made seven birdies for a five-under total that took him to fourth on the leaderboard.

Mani Ram - PGTI Tour
Mani Ram – PGTI Tour

Arjun Prasad and Rahil Gangjee shared the fifth spot with a 68 to their names. An eagle and five birdies helped Prasad make an early impression, while Gangjee’s seven birdies were dented by a double on the fourth and a bogey on the tenth hole. There were seven golfers lying in T7, with a 69 on their cards. The group consisted of Tapy Ghai, the order of merit leader Karandeep Kochhar, India’s highest ranked golfer Rashid Khan, amateur Rohan Dhole Patil, Asian Tour winner Viraj Madappa, Shravan Desai and Chikkarangappa.

Udayan Mane had a disappointing start, even though he searched throughout the round for some consistency. In the end four bogeys and birdies at the 11th and 16th meant that he signed on a 74, sitting just above the projected cut line.

With the Olympics round the corner, there is added incentive for golfers in India to try and squeeze in some good results to collect some valuable ranking points. The top five in each PGTI Tour event receive points.