CHANDIGARH, DEC 20 : Defending champion Amarjeet Brara of the United States of America made the most of the cold and foggy weather to fire the best gross card of the day a six over par 78 to take the lead on the opening day of the Chandigarh Golfing Tour on the par-72 greens of the sprawling Chandigarh Golf Club here on Friday.
Breathing down his neck one stroke behind is Bill Aulakh of Canada. The zero handicap player from Australia did not take the field as a total of 60 NRIs teed off for the Tourism Golf Trophy.
Amarjit Brara could have finished with a much better score had he not triple bogeyed on the 10th and followed it up with a double bogy on the 12th.
Brara began with a birdie on the second. He lost a stroke on the sixth and the ninth to be on over par at the turn. He had a dismal back nine triple bogeying the 10th. He made little amends birdying the 11th. But then he faltered again with a double bogey on the 12th and a bogey on the 13th to finish with a six over 78 card.
His closest rival from the UK, Bill Aulakh also had a birdie and a two bogeys for a one over score at the turn. But two double bogeys and three bogeys on the back nine saw him finish the day one stroke behind the leader at 79.
In the nett scores Arjan Singh of the US (68) was the winner in the 0-14 handicap category with Neil Singh Chahal of the UK one stroke behind at 69.
Harminderjit Sangha of Singapore and Amarjit S.Dhaliwal had identical nett scores of 68 in the 15-24 handicap category, but because of a better back nine Sangha was declared the winner on the opening day.
Harbhajan Singh Hayer (US) and Deep Grewal (US) also shared the best gross score in the 15-24 handicap category, but again Hayer won because of a better back nine.
Harbhajan Singh Hayer clinched the longest drive contest hitting the ball to a distance of 280 yards with Jagmohan Singh finishing nearest to the pin (9 inches).
Saurav Thakur won the gross title among the invitees with a gross score of 82 with Shakti Dogra finishing one stroke behind at 83. In the nett scores the winner was Karanpal Singh at 68 with Deshbir Singh finishing one stroke behind at 69.
Besides the 60 NRIs who teed off another batch of 35 invitees also participated in the tournament which will shift to the SEPTA course in Chandimandir on Saturday before culminating at the Panchkula Golf Club on Sunday, where the prize distribution ceremony will also be held.
The brainchild of CGA president C.S.R. Reddy, the ninth flagship tournament of the Golfing Tour was launched to promote the tricity as a golf tourism destination.