The Hindu : Sport / Golf : Malik, Syal lead on opening day

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Thursday, Dec 01, 2005

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Sport - Golf

Malik, Syal lead on opening day

KOLKATA: Amardip Singh Malik from Meerut and Sandeep Syal from Chennai took the lead first day, both turning in cards of four-under 68, leading Feroz Ali Mollah and Uttam Singh Mundy, both from Kolkata, at three-under 69, by just one stroke in the Hero Honda Open East, the seventh leg of the Amby Valley PGAI tour at the RCGC here on Wednesday.

A field of 114 professionals and eight amateurs teed off. Malik took off with four pars, but a bogey on the 409 yard, par-four 14th made him sit back to take stock of the situation. Later he went on to make two more birdies, on the 16th and 18th, that ensured that he made the turn at one-under.

The front nine proved to be even better. He continued with the good work by making four more birdies — on the first, second, fourth and fifth. And there was a good chance for him to go five-under if he had not gone one over on his last hole, the par-four, 398-yard ninth where he actually single putted.

With birdies on the first, fourth, sixth, 13th and 16th, Syal had a fine run to be the joint first.

Akshay Butta proved to be the best among the amateurs with a score of one-under 71. He led Ranjit Singh by two strokes. Three other amateurs also turned in good scores after 18 holes.

Leading scores (after 18 holes): 68: Sandeep Syal, Amardip Singh Malik; 69: Feroz Ali, US Mundy; 70: Mukesh Kumar; 71: GS Sethi; 72: SSP Chowrasia, Shankar Das, Yusuf Ali.

Amateur: 71: Akshay Butta; 73: Ranjit Singh; 75: Gaurav Ghosh; 76: Kanishk Tulsiyan, Navtez Singh. — Special Correspondent

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