Roshan, Aditi hog limelight on day one

While Roshan led the Boys ‘A’ and ‘B’ categories with the only sub-par round of the day, Aditi, playing in Category ‘B’ for girls, led the field by a big margin after bringing home a card of two-over 73.

The 16-year-old Roshan, still looking for his first win, outshone his better-known and more successful rivals with a one-under 70 at the par-71 Pune Golf Club. He had four birdies, two on either side of the course and three bogeys, one of which came late in the day on the 17th.

Roshan was two clear of Vashistha Pawar (72) and Abhishek Kumar (72) and Manu Gandas (73) was further behind in fourth place. Ankur Chadha (75) was tied fifth with two others, Rahul Ravi and Sarhan Italia.

Syed Saqib Ahmed, third on the Order of Merit for Group ‘A’ and ‘B’, and expected to be one of the contenders, had a tough day with a round of 83 and Yashas Chandra shot 80. Playing in Category ‘B’, Aditi, who topped a professional event while still being an amateur, was the best among girls with a round of 73.

She was three better than Category ‘A’ leader, Gurbani Singh (76) and five ahead of Raksha Phadke who was second in Category ‘A’. Aditi was eight shots better than Ridhima Dilawari (81) in Category ‘B’. Shivnaren Srinivasen shot the best round among Category ‘B’ boys with a round of 75, one clear of Viraj Madappa (76),  Piyush Sangwan, Prakher Asawa and Tinku Halder.

Jaiveer Singh (79) and Arjun Puri (80) were lying first and second in the Category ‘C’. Dolma Rawat (81) led Category ‘C’ for girls.