Thaindian News

Pune, Sep 27 (IANS) Roshan Raj and Aditi Ashok, both from Bangalore, were the stars of the opening day of the Toyota-IGU Categorised golf tournament here Tuesday.

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

Roshan, 16 years of age and 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 of Cosmo shot the best round among the Category B boys with a round of 75, that put him one clear of Viraj Madappa (76), who is second on the Order of for the season. Also shooting 76 were 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.

The country young stars are fighting for points to move up on the IGU Merit list.