India number four Gagan Verma played an almost flawless round to submit a card of four-under 68 and take the first-round honours in the LG Jaypee Open amateur golf championship at the par-72 Jaypee Greens Golf Resort here on Tuesday. The Delhi-based amateur led Saurabh Bahuguna and Kapil Kumar, who shot two-under 70s, by two strokes.
Rahul Bajaj was sole fourth at 71 while Moin Malak occupied the fifth position at level-par 72. HS Kang, Samresh Sardar, Suman Puri and Tarun Ghogale were all tied for the sixth spot at 73 while last week's winner Abhishek Jha was tied 10th along with Arshdeep Tiwana, Simarjeet Singh, Pritam Haridas and Angad Cheema after firing a 74.
Top scores (after 18 holes): 68: Gagan Verma; 70: Kapil Kumar, Saurabh Bahuguna; 71: Rahul Bajaj; 72: Moin Malak; 73: HS Kang, Samresh Sardar, Suman Puri, Tarun Ghoghale; 74: Arshdeep Tiwana, Simarjeet Singh, Pritam Haridas, Angad Cheema, Abhishek Jha.
