Bangalore, Feb 1 (IANS) Teenager Khalin Joshi fired a four-under 68 to take the lead in the first round of the All India Amateur Championships at the KGA Golf Club Tuesday.
Joshi, 18, from Bangalore, led another local player, C.G. Somiah (69) and Abhijeet Chadha (71), an Asian Games medallist.
Defending champion S Chikkrangappa carded 74 and was in tied sixth place.
However, another Asian Games medallist, Abhinav Lohan, managed only a 75 and was tied 11th.
The top 32 players from the two rounds of stroke play will qualify for the Matchplay competition to be played from Thursday.
Joshi opened with a birdie and had more birdies on third and fifth. He birdied the tenth, eagled the 11th and again birdied the 12th. His bogeys came on the seventh, 15th and 18th.
Abhijit and Abhinav, who comprise India ‘A’, led the team competition with 146. In the second place were India ‘B’ with Khalin Joshi and Gagan Verma (75). Trishul Chinappa ((77) and Chikkarangappa (74) were tied third at 151 with the Bangladesh team of Mohd. Nazim (76) and Dulal Hussain (75).
