Chinnarat scorches the course for 11-under
card; India’s Chadha is second at Avantha Masters
Greater Noida, India, March 14:
Thailand’s Chinnarat Phadungsil took ample advantage of the ideal scoring
conditions, scorching the Jaypee Greens Golf Course for a 11-under 61 that
include a sensational eight birdies on the back nine on the first day of the
Avantha Masters 2013. It gave him a huge five-shot lead over a bunch of five
players that included yet another talented young Indian, Abhijit Chadha, who shot
a bogey free six-under 66 in the €1.8 million (approximately US$2.3 million) event,
tri-sanctioned by European, Asian and PGTI Tours.
Though
Chinnarat led the field, the home challenge had a decent enough start.
Among the other prominent Indians, Chadha’s 2010
Asian Games teammate, Rashid Khan shot 67, while former champion SSP Chowrasia,
Anirban Lahiri, Gaganjeet Bhullar and Ashok Kumar carded 68 each, while Rahil
Gangjee and Jeev Milkha Singh brought in 69 apiece.
Chinnarat,
25, a three-time winner on the Asian Tour, who won his first title beating
India’s Shiv Kapur in a play-off in Thailand in 2005, had just 22 putts. Back
in 2005, Chinnarat had become the youngest winner on the Asian Tour at 17 years
and five days.
He
was only one shot away from equalling the Asian Tour’s low 18-hole score record.
The five players tied in second place included Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat and
current Order of Merit leader Chawalit Plaphol, Chadha, China’s Liang Wen-chong
and Sweden’s Magnus A Carlsson who signed for matching 66s.
“It’s
my best-ever round! My previous best was a nine-under par in China in 2007. So
it’s definitely a great feeling today,” said Chinnarat
Chinnarat
had three birdies to reach the turn in 33. Then he exploded into action with
seven birdies in a row. He was 10-under when he came to the 220-yard long par-3
17th tee. “I had a very long putt
and managed two putts for a par,” said Chinnarat.
“On
the front nine I was hitting a lot of hook shots, so my putter really saved me.
But on the back nine, I drove the ball better and my irons were also better, so
that’s the reason why I scored so well,” said Chinnarat.
Local
hope Chadha brought the early cheers in the morning when he finished as the
clubhouse leader then. Chadha, 21, was presented the PGTI Rookie of the Year
Award on Wednesday and is excited about his prospects this week.
“I’m
feeling really good about this week. I was just raring to go and get on with
it. I just want to go out and play. I like this golf course as it suits my
game. Winning the title last year on the PGTI was a good feeling,” said Chadha,
who marked his flawless card with six birdies.
Liang,
who earned the distinction of being the first mainland Chinese to win the Asian
Tour Order of Merit in 2007, continued his love affair with India when he
returned with a 66 to continue his push for his third Asian Tour victory.
The
Chinese last win on the Asian Tour was in India where he carded a 12-under-par
60 to set a new low 18-hole score in the opening round of the Indian Open in
2008.
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