Aamby Valley: Johan Edfors, who said he felt almost at home the moment he landed at the Aamby Valley City for the Pearls Golf Premier League, added to that familiarity with a fine six-under 49 for the par-55 14-hole round on the opening day to take a one-shot lead over Kenwood Nippon Delhi Darts teammate Rahil Gangjee.
The result was that Kenwood Nippon Delhi Darts was also in lead in team championships with Shubhkamna UP Eagles in second spot. Maharashtra 59ers were lying third at eight-under while Tamil Nadu Pullees and Witalsee Punjab Lancers are lying tied fourth,
Edfors was the star of the day as he went through the 14-hole round with six birdies and had no bogeys blotting it. “It was great fun. I had a solid round. It is nice to get into the second round with a good cushion,” said Edfors, who is a brand Ambassador for Black Mountain Golf Course in Thailand, which is quite similar to Aamby Valley.
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Leading individual scores at inaugural Pearls Golf Premier League in association with Aamby Valley:
The event is being played over 14 holes with a total par of 55
Holes: 14; Par 55
49 (-6) Johan Edfors (Kenwood Nippon Delhi Darts)
50 (-5) Rahil Gangjee (Kenwood Nippon Delhi Darts)
51 (-4) Scott Hend (Maharashtra 59ers); Anirban Lahiri (Shubhkamna UP Eagles); Daniel Chopra (Shubhkamna UP Eagles), Simon Dyson (Colombo 6’s)
52 (-3) Angel Cabrera (Maharashtra 59ers); Gaganjeet Bhullar (Witalsee Punjab Lancers); Darren Clarke (Uttarakhand
Lions); Chapchai Nirat (Uttarakhand Lions); Digivijay Singh (Gujarat Underdawgs); Himmat Rai (Tamilnadu Pullees)
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“I have played in the same group as Rahil twice before on Asian Tour and we were recalling that as we played along. Rahil did well initially and then I had a good back stretch (of seven holes),” he added.
Gangjee, who played last two years on Web.com Tour and will now play on Asian Tour, added, “We jelled well and had great fun. Since we are also leading it is even better. Hopefully we can continue the good work and it will give me a great start for the season.”
Gangjee said, “I had five birdies and could have had one or two more. But I will take a five-under in a 14-hole round anyday.”
Daniel Chopra, who shot four-under said, “I was trying to break 50 (that is under) and I came close. I am happy with the way it went but most importantly it was fun playing along side Shamim Khan, Rashid and David Howell.”
Scott Hend who shot four-under for Maharashtra 59ers, said “I struggled a bit initially with a lost ball and then a three-putt. Then my teammate Ashok, who has had some experience of this course helped me read the greens, which I was finding difficult to begin with. Then I ended fine to come back with four-under.”
Anirban Lahiri of Shubhkamna Eagles had a fine four-under, but he felt that he could have been at least three to four better. “I had a lot of lip outs and misses. I felt I could have gone really low.”
Similar was the reaction from Simon Dyson of Colombo 6’s. “I missed so many shots out there. I hope I can hole a few more putts tommororw.”
Uttarakhand Lions top man Darren Clarke and Maharashtra 59ers star Angel Cabrera shot three-under each as did Witalsee Punjab Lancers’ Gaganjeet Bhullar.