Nuh (Haryana), March 19 – Adam Wallin, Rashid Khan, and Sebastian Friedrichsen share the lead after the first day of the DP World PGTI Open.
Swede Wallin and Khan, among the early starters at Classic Golf & Country Club, both shot rounds of 66, which were six under par, while Friedrichsen joined the leaders later in the day after scoring four birdies and an eagle in the first 12 holes before play was suspended due to poor light conditions.
Wallin, starting his first full HotelPlanner Tour season, mixed five birdies with one bogey before closing his round with an eagle on the par five 18th. The 24-year-old, who won three times on the Nordic Golf League last year, was pleased with his performance.
"I had a bit of a slow start," he said. "I played okay on the front nine. I didn't make many putts, but I got going on the back nine and had a really good final stretch.
"I made easy birdies on the 12th and 14th, and I hit a great shot into the par five 16th, and finished with a nice three iron to five feet on the last for an eagle".
Khan, who placed in the top 30 at last week's Indorama Ventures Open Golf Championship, matched Wallin's score after a round that included six birdies, an eagle, and two dropped shots.
The 35-year-old finished 11th at Classic Golf and Country Club 12 months ago and is looking to continue his positive form on home soil. "I'm really happy," he said. "I started well, made a birdie on the second hole, and again on the sixth.
"I was hitting the ball well today, but somehow, I was making the putts. I've been putting well for the last three weeks, and I'm trying to give myself some birdie putts. This golf course requires some good putting and some good tee shots, especially on the front nine.
"My game is getting back on track, and that's why I'm enjoying my golf right now. I'm really struggling with my driver, but I'm managing the scores now," he said.
Irishman Conor Purcell, South African Yurav Premlall, Spaniard Albert Boneta, and Austrian Lukas Nemecz all share fourth place at five under par.
Joint leader Friedrichsen will return to the course for a 6:50 am tee time to complete his first round before the second round begins at 7:20 am local time, with Wallin teeing off alongside Premlall and Honey Baisoya at 12:45 pm. Khan will tee off at 1:45 pm alongside Purcell and Nemecz.