Gaurav Pratap sets pace with 65

Noida’s Gaurav Pratap Singh overcame a poor start to fire a seven-under 65 in Round One of the IndianOil Servo Masters Golf in Digboi, Assam, on Wednesday.

Pratap led by a stroke over Mukesh Kumar of Mhow and Kolkata’s Shankar Das at the Digboi Golf Links.Pratap’s 65 was one of his best rounds in the last two years. He had a bogey-bogey start but the 31-year-old, a former winner on the PGTI, then made a comeback with nine birdies.

“It’s probably the best round I’ve shot in two years. I made all the par-5s count today scoring birdies on each one. My wedge shots were also pretty good. I feel I played really well to not only recover but also put up a low number after that terrible start,” Pratap said.

“I’ve suffered a spate of injuries over the last two years that has hampered my game. So it’s great to finally see a 65 against my name..”

Mukesh and Das, two of the pre-tournament favourites, lived up to their reputations occupying the joint second place. Mukesh, a six-time winner in Digboi, missed a three-footer on the opening 10th hole to begin the tournament with a bogey. He then rallied with three birdies and an eagle over the next four holes.

He drove the green and then converted a 20-footer for eagle on the 14th after setting up tap-ins on the 12th and 13th.Kolkata’s Nur Hossain Sardar carded a bogey-free 67 to share the fourth spot with Noida’s Vikrant Chopra and M. Dharma of Bengaluru. Defending champion Shamim Khan of Delhi fired a one-under-71 to be tied 24th.