Mumbai, Chennai share lead in Louis Philippe Cup

Jyoti Randhawa

Bengaluru, June 11 (IANS)

Laqshya Mumbai and TAKE Chennai shared the lead with a team total of four-under 140 on day one of the Rs. 1.2 Crore Louis Philippe Cup at the Karnataka Golf Association here Thursday.

Jyoti Randhawa fired a three-under 69 that enabled Laqshya Mumbai to finish on top with TAKE Chennai. Randhawa's team-mate Mukesh Kumar, 50, carded a one-under 71 while the third member of the team Manav Jaini returned with level-par 72. As per the format, the scores of the best two players are taken into consideration as the team total.

Local lad Khalin Joshi's three-under 69 ensured that TAKE Chennai also finish on top. Joshi's teammate Chikkarangappa, 21, finished with a scorecard of one-under 71 while the third member of the team, S.S.P Chawrasia was two-over 74.

Leading the Laqshya Mumbai team, former Asian Tour No.1 Randhawa said: "I had a game plan in mind and played very well according to that. I would love to take the under par scores any day.

"It was just the last hole, which was out of focus but overall, it was a great day. I made birdies on 1st, 11th, 12th, 15th, 16th and bogeyed 7th and 18th. Few shots here and there would have been better for which I will be trying tomorrow.

A very close battle is expected and spectators will see leads change hands often over the next two days unless someone comes along and shoots a 63 or 64 individually."

"However, any of the 21 players competing this week is capable of shooting such a score, so you just can't tell which team will break away from the pack tomorrow," he added.

Joshi, 23, who knows KGA inside out said: "It was a tough day. I could have done much better but struggled a lot with my putting. 8th and 17th holes that are pretty straight and I always make birdies on them; I ended up making bogeys today."

"Five birdies and two bogeys at this course is not what I expected. The putter that I changed during this year's Indian Open did wonders for me from February to about three weeks ago but over the last two weeks it has been the other way around.

I will practice my putting today and hopefully can convert some more birdies and eagles tomorrow," he added.

Jaypee Greens Greater Noida ended the day in third position at two-under 142 while defending champions Navratna Ahmedabad, Zion Hills Bengaluru, DLF The Crest Gurgaon and Dev-Ellora Pune shared the fourth position, with a score of one-under 143.

AC Muniyappa, who shot two-under 70 for Zion Hills Bengaluru, said: "I did not get a very good start as I three putted for a bogey on first hole. I am struggling a bit with my hitting as well, but if I shoot five-under and one of my partners another five-under tomorrow, we can surely be in lead. Good show on fairways and greens with low score is my goal this week."

Only three strokes separate the first to seventh placed teams after the round one at the three-day, 54-Hole strokeplay event.

Louis Philippe Cup 2015 -

ATeam standings (Round 1):

A Laqshya Mumbai 4-under 140 (Jyoti Randhawa 69, Mukesh Kumar 71, Manav Jaini 72);

TAKE Chennai 4-under 140 (Khalin Joshi 69, Chikkarangappa 71, SSP Chawrasia 74);

Jaypee Greens Greater Noida 2-under 142 (Gaganjeet Bhullar 72, Rashid Khan 72, Shamim Khan 70);

A Navratna Ahmedabad 1-under-143 (Mithun Perera 74, Anura Rohana 76, Shankar Das 69);

Zion Hills Bengaluru1-under-143AA(Rahil Gangjee 73, C Muniyappa 70, Abhijit Chadha 73);

DLF The Crest Gurgaon 1-under-143 (Shubhankar Sharma 70, Manu Gandas 73, Abhinav Lohan 78);

Dev-Ellora Pune 1-under-143 (Siddikur 76, Om Prakash Chouhan 71, Sanjay Kumar 72).