Chennai, Aug 14: The TNGF open, third leg of the Hero Honda Indian PGA tour, has rolled well for professionals as 22 of them returned sub par scores with Indian open champion, Vijay Kumar of Lucknow leading the pack with an eight under 64 after the first round at the cosmopolitan course here today. Vijay, a regular and a former winner of the tournament, showed consistency, particularly in putting, as he ended the day bogey-free. He had a five under score at the end of seven holes after parring the third and fifth holes. He played on level in the next four holes before claiming birdies on 12, 14 and 16th holes.
Three strokes behind Vijay were Uttam Singh Mundy (Kol) and G Pappan (Delhi), who carded five under 67 each, while defending champion, Mukesh Kumar of Mhow, who also holds the course record, and Mohd Islam (Kol) were joint third with 69.
Praduman Singh Guleria of Delhi lightened up the day's proceedings with a hole-in-one feat on 136 yard fourth hole. Five other professionals including Harmeet Kahlon were tied for the fourth with two-under 70 each, while 13 golfers returned identical card of 71.
Sandeep Sayal, a local favourite and top-most amateur golfer in the country, emerged the only one amongst the dozen in the field to achieve a sub par score of one under 71 today.
His elder brother Gaurav Syal (74) was lying second and C V Yudvir (76) third. Bureau Report