Unsung Sardar grabs lead

Golf Southern India Juniors: Kolkatan cards even-par 72; Sangwan in second spot

Unheralded Mohan Sardar grabbed the spotlight as the rest of the field struggled on the treacherous Karnataka Golf Association course, storming into sole lead in the Toyota-IGU Southern India Juniors golf championship here on Wednesday.

The 14-year-old Kolkatan, who hails from a humble background and works as a caddie at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club to meet his family’s needs, shot a fine level-par 72 to grab a one-stroke lead (148) on a day when no one managed to go below par.

Overnight leader and fellow Category B player Piyush Sangwan is placed overall second at 149 after returning a four-over 76 while Shubhankar Sharma and Viraj Madappa shot 76 and 77 respectively to be tied third.

A 10th tee-starter, Sardar began on a promising note, picking up a stroke right away on the par-4 hole. He then birdied the par-4 12th before going three-under with his third birdie on the par-3 15th. Just when it appeared that Sardar would blaze his way past the field, things fell apart for the hard-working teenager.

He dropped his first shot of the day on the 17th, bogeyed the 18th before completing a hat-trick on the first hole. Not knowing what had struck him, Sardar displayed good nerves in regaining his composure and parred the remaining eight holes to take the clubhouse lead.

Leading scores (after 36 holes): Category A&B: 148: Mohan Sardar (76, 72); 149: Piyush Sangwan (73, 76): 151: Shubhankar Sharma (75, 76), Viraj Madappa (74, 77); 152: Arjun Singh (77, 75), Yashas Chandra (74, 78); 153: Dhruv Sheoran (78, 75); 154: Aman Raj (80, 74); 155: Feroz Singh Garewal (78, 77), Tanvir Kahlon (75, 80).
Category B: 148: Mohan Sardar; 149: Piyush Sangwan; 151: Viraj Madappa; 155: Tanvir Kahlon; 157: Prakhar Asawa (74, 83).