Bengaluru Open: Mukesh, Baisoya & Harendra Lead After Day 1

Bengaluru, Dec 6 (PTI) Mukesh Kumar, Honey Baisoya and Harendra Gupta came up with scintillating six-under 66 in the opening day to grab the lead at the Bengaluru Open Golf Championship here on Thursday.

While Mukesh of Mhow produced a flawless round at the Karnataka Golf Association (KGA), last year's runner-up Baisoya of Delhi and Chandigarh's Harendra made six birdies and a bogey each on a windy day.

Sri Lankan Anura Rohana occupied fourth position at five-under-67.

Mukesh, who has won on most golf courses in India except a few including KGA, began the tournament with a birdie on the 10th. He kept landing within five to seven feet on the back-nine and as a result reaped the rewards with four consecutive birdies from the 15th to the 18th.

Mukesh, a winner of over 120 titles, kept the errors out on the front-nine and set up another short birdie conversion on the closing ninth to end the day with a six-under.

Baisoya, who finished a close second at last year's event, made two long birdie conversions and set up two tap-in birdies on the back-nine to make early inroads.

After a bogey on the 18th, Baisoya, a two-time winner this season, made gains on the front-nine as well as he sank birdies on the first, second and fifth. He missed out on an eagle on the first where his approach shot hit the flag.

Harendra, who finished third at last year's edition, was on the mark with his driving and short-game as he scored three-under on both the front-nine and back-nine.

Anura Rohana mixed seven birdies with two bogeys during his round of 67 that placed him fourth.

Among the 10 golfers tied for fifth with scores of 68, were Bengaluru's M Dharma, C Muniyappa, Mari Muthu, Delhi golfers Rashid Khan and Shamim Khan and Gurugram's Digvijay Singh.

Defending champion Udayan Mane of Ahmedabad was a further shot back in tied 15th.

Mane made a fantastic recovery after dropping three bogeys on the first five holes. From the sixth to the 18th he sank seven birdies and a bogey to submit a card of 69.

Asian Tour regular Chiragh Kumar of Delhi shot a 70 to be placed tied 22nd.

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