Any opportunity to play the hallowed Lodhi Course at the Delhi Golf Club evokes awe and ecstasy. The NCR Cup — 4th Junior Golf Tournament, organised by the Delhi Golf Society, has allowed a chance to promising golfers to test their skills on a turf that has challenged the best of professional golfers over time.
If the narrow fairways were deemed a challenge, the redesign in 2019 by Gary Player has added to the degree to difficulty around the greens as well.
A venue like this often brings the best out of athletes, and a case in point was Aarav D Shah’s opening day two-under 70 to command a seven-shot lead over Kanav Chauhan (77) in this three-day competition, which also boasts of World Amateur Golf Ranking points. Home boy Ranveer Mitroo lies third at 78 among ‘B’ boys.
In ‘A’ boys, the competition was a lot tighter, at least on Day 1, with little to separate the top three. Pratham Sawant opened with a 3-over 75, and led by a shot over Rakshit Dahiya, who in turn is one ahead of Aarnav Sharma (77).
In ‘A’ girls, Renee Rane was the top name with a creditable one-over 73, and the effort got her a comfortable five-shot cushion over Mannat Brar and Parneet Kaur. Aarushi Bhanot and Ragini Navet were T4 two shots back at 80.
There was little to choose from in ‘B’ girls with the top names jostling for space on the leaderboard. Laavanya Gupta gained early ascendency by breaking away with a six-over 78. The others were bunched together with a shot each between Kashika Misra (84), Mehveen Adil (85) and Avneet Kaur (86).
The action will get keener on Thursday with Categories ‘C’, ‘D’, and ‘E’ teeing off at the 9-hole Peacock Course. While the first two categories will compete over 36 holes and two days, the tiny tots will play 18 holes on the morrow.
The GolfingHub Photo by Akarsh Sharma
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