MUMBAI, January 15: Delhi's Pappan emerged as the unexpected leader at the end of the first day's play of the ANZ Bank-BPGC Open, today.Pappan fired an amazing round of 63, seven-under-par at the par-70 Bombay Presidency Golf Club (BPGC), to relegate his famed competitors, Arjun Atwal, Ali Sher and Gaurav Ghei to the lower ranks. A three-stroke difference now separates him from the second-placed Amritinder Singh of Chandigarh.
The Delhiite was in awesome form throughout. He finished the first nine holes with 32 and had a still better return journey with four-under par.
Defending champion Mukesh Kumar (Mhow) was joint third alongwith Calcutta's SSP Chowrasia and Binod Pandey, who fired a three-under today.
Pappan, whose best finish so far in his 10-year-long professional career was the third spot in the ONGC Open this year, began badly by dropping a stroke on the 2nd. But a superb eagle on the par-5 fourth hole, restored his confidence. Two successive drivers brought him three feet off the cup for a
simple putt.
Thereafter there was no stopping Pappan with birdies on the 6th, 9th, 10th, 13th, 16th and 18th. The effort saw him equal the course record set by Daniel Chopra at the 1994 Mahindra-BPGC Open.
``After the eagle on the 4th, I knew it would be my day. I am very happy with my game today. I hope to continue in the same vein tomorrow'' the unassuming 30-year-old Pappan said.
Amritinder too had a better return journey of three-under to add to his one-under in the front nine. After hitting bogeys on the 5th and 6th holes, he had an almost faultless progression except for the 11th which he three-putted. He finished with a flurry of birdies on the 14th 16th,, 17th and 18th holes.
Ali Sher, the two time Indian Open champion, finished with a round of 68 to share the fourth spot with Rajeev Mohta (Calcutta) and Shiv Prakash of Kanpur.
Returning to the greens after a month's lay-off due to an ankle injury, stalwart Arjun Atwal finished one-over for the day.
Among the other big names, Lucknow's
Vijay Kumar was one-under 69 and Arjun Singh was even par. Feroz Ali went two over while Gaurav Ghei and Amandeep Johl were three over. Uttam Singh Mundy was four-over.
The leaders (after 18 holes): 63- Pappan; 66- Amritinder Singh; 67- Mukesh Kumar, SSP Chowrasia, Binod Pandey; 68- Ali Sher, Rajeev Mohta, Shiv Prakash; 69- Vijay Kumar, Mohammed Islam; 70- Arjun Singh, Rohtas Singh; 71- Arjun Atwal, Basad Ali, Akbar Ali, Rafiq Ali.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
