Kapil Dev tied first at Indian Golf Union senior championship

Noida: Gangesh Khaitan, winner of last year's All India Senior Championship, 1982 Asian Games gold medallist Amit Luthra and cricket legend Kapil Dev were tied for the first place after shooting four-over 76 on day one of Indian Golf Union All India Senior Championship here on Wednesday.

Noida's Khaitan, who has captained the Indian team for Asia-Pacific Senior Golf Championship twice in the past, opened the front nine with a bogey on 1st, 4th, 7th and 8th which was followed by a birdie on 13th and a bogey on 17th to close at four-over 76.

Delhi's Luthra who made a debut in senior category today, did not have a very good start as he shot a double bogey on 1st and 5th and carded birdies on 4th, 7th, 13th. He also dropped shots on 9th, 15th and 17th for the score of four-over at Jaypee Greens Golf Club.

"I missed the greens from 5-10 yards and that resulted in two double bogeys. I was not very happy with the start where I missed the green by 4 meter. Fingers are crossed for tomorrow. I hope I am able to chip and hit all greens in regulation tomorrow," said Luthra.

The captain of the 1983 World Cup winning team, Dev covered the front nine in 38 before mixing double bogey on 12th to finish in a share of the lead.

Two shots behind was Kolkata's Lakshman Singh, 1982 Asian Games gold medallist in golf and 1982 Arjuna Awardee who finished 4th.

In the mid-Amateur Championship happening concurrently, Delhi's Vikram Rana jumped up to take the lead on day two after shooting two-over 74 for the total of five-over 149. Chandigarh's HS Kang took the second place at six-over 150.

Players, who finish in top six, will form a team and will be sent for the Asia-Pacific Senior Amateur Championship that will be played at Qingdao Golf Club in China from October 14-16, 2015.

IGU has been sending teams for the Asia-Pacific Senior for many years and India has a record of winning a bronze medal in the 2010 Asia-Pacific Senior amateur Championship in Thailand for the first time ahead of Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand and others.