<p>Rookie Khalin Joshi got off to a dream debut on the Asian Tour, firing a brilliant six-under 66 to share the lead with Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat in the SAIL-SBI Open here at the Delhi Golf Club on Wednesday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Chapchai and Joshi lead by one shot over Qualifying School winner Chan Kim of the United States.<br /><br />Chapchai launched his quest to end a four-year winless run in stunning fashion, smashing eight birdies against two bogeys. <br /><br />Joshi, an afternoon starter who is playing in his debut pro season, showed his potential with a nine-birdie effort with three bogeys ruining his chance off grabbing the sole lead.<br /><br />India’s Chiragh Kumar shot a solid 68 to share third place with Bangladeshi Siddikur while Shiv Kapur (69) failed to capitalise on his magnificent outward 29 when he came home in 40 after taking a quadruple bogey eight on the sixth hole. <br />Manav Jaini, another DGC star who has some excellent finishes in Asian Tour events at his home course, also carded a creditable 69.<br /><br />Defending champion Anirban Lahiri started with a sedate one-under 71, while Rikard Karlberg, champion in 2010, shot even-par 72. <br /><br />Four-time Asian Tour winner Gaganjeet Bhullar endured a disappointing day after shooting three-over 75. Completely thrilled with his effort, 20-year-old Joshi said he couldn’t have hoped for a better beginning to his Asian Tour debut. <br /><br />“It was a great start. I putted really well today. I’ve been hitting the ball well the past few weeks but the putter was hot today. Hit a great tee shot on the seventh hole to two inches, wish it was a hole in one!”<br /><br />“I’m going to approach the rest of the week like how I did today, just play within myself. This is the first week I am not playing with my driver. I’ll do that the whole week. Just keep the same attitude,” added the Bangalorean who emerged as top amateur golfer of India last year. <br /><br />Speaking of his fellow Bangalorean Lahiri, Joshi said he always tries to learn from him. <br />“Anirban is a great friend of mine and I look up to him. I’m looking forward to doing something this week. It will mean the world to me, if I can win my first Asian Tour tournament as a pro. I’m looking forward to it.”<br /><br />The 29-year-old Chapchai, whose last victory was in the SAIL-SBI Open in 2009 when he set a world record for 72-holes with his winning 32-under 256 total, wielded a hot putter to move up the leaderboard. <br /><br />“My putting was very good today. I made a lot of one putts out there, probably took 27 or 28 putts.”<br /><br /></p>
<p>Rookie Khalin Joshi got off to a dream debut on the Asian Tour, firing a brilliant six-under 66 to share the lead with Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat in the SAIL-SBI Open here at the Delhi Golf Club on Wednesday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Chapchai and Joshi lead by one shot over Qualifying School winner Chan Kim of the United States.<br /><br />Chapchai launched his quest to end a four-year winless run in stunning fashion, smashing eight birdies against two bogeys. <br /><br />Joshi, an afternoon starter who is playing in his debut pro season, showed his potential with a nine-birdie effort with three bogeys ruining his chance off grabbing the sole lead.<br /><br />India’s Chiragh Kumar shot a solid 68 to share third place with Bangladeshi Siddikur while Shiv Kapur (69) failed to capitalise on his magnificent outward 29 when he came home in 40 after taking a quadruple bogey eight on the sixth hole. <br />Manav Jaini, another DGC star who has some excellent finishes in Asian Tour events at his home course, also carded a creditable 69.<br /><br />Defending champion Anirban Lahiri started with a sedate one-under 71, while Rikard Karlberg, champion in 2010, shot even-par 72. <br /><br />Four-time Asian Tour winner Gaganjeet Bhullar endured a disappointing day after shooting three-over 75. Completely thrilled with his effort, 20-year-old Joshi said he couldn’t have hoped for a better beginning to his Asian Tour debut. <br /><br />“It was a great start. I putted really well today. I’ve been hitting the ball well the past few weeks but the putter was hot today. Hit a great tee shot on the seventh hole to two inches, wish it was a hole in one!”<br /><br />“I’m going to approach the rest of the week like how I did today, just play within myself. This is the first week I am not playing with my driver. I’ll do that the whole week. Just keep the same attitude,” added the Bangalorean who emerged as top amateur golfer of India last year. <br /><br />Speaking of his fellow Bangalorean Lahiri, Joshi said he always tries to learn from him. <br />“Anirban is a great friend of mine and I look up to him. I’m looking forward to doing something this week. It will mean the world to me, if I can win my first Asian Tour tournament as a pro. I’m looking forward to it.”<br /><br />The 29-year-old Chapchai, whose last victory was in the SAIL-SBI Open in 2009 when he set a world record for 72-holes with his winning 32-under 256 total, wielded a hot putter to move up the leaderboard. <br /><br />“My putting was very good today. I made a lot of one putts out there, probably took 27 or 28 putts.”<br /><br /></p>