The white T-shirt and grey shorts didn’t quite go with S. Chikkarangappa’s usual, flamboyant style. But once the 16-year-old Bengaluru boy took to the greens, the style was on show in abundance as he completed a blemish-
free round, tallying six-under 66 on the opening day of the HP Asia Pacific Junior Golf championship which got underway at the Eagleton Golf Resort on Thursday.
Kapurthala lad Ashbeer Saini carded one-over-73, while Honey Biasoya returned the third best card for the Indian team with a nine-over 81, taking the team total to four-over 220.
The Indian team suffered a minor jolt when Biasoya took ill with a stomach ailment but despite the severe discomfort, Biasoya completed his round. Thailand, on the other hand, were three strokes ahead with a total of 217, with Poom Saksansin turning in the best score with a four-under 68. Chinese Taipei were one stroke behind the hosts.
In the girls’ team event, Chinese Taipei opened up a slender one-stroke lead over Singapore with a total of one-under 143. The Indian girls’ were third, six shots behind the leaders. The team scores are made up of the three best cards from the team of four in the boys section, while two best cards out of three are considered for the girls’ team total.
In the individual category, among boys, Thai youngster Saksansin was two strokes behind Chikka, while in the girls’ section Joe-Ee Kok of Singapore was the best with even-par score. Shreya Ghei is the best-placed Indian at tied fifth at two-over 74.
While the sun scorched the greens, Chikka, the home grown hero of Eagleton, sizzled in his backyard. While many may call Chikka’s card a home course advantage, few can take the credit away from the talent the teenager possesses.
A 10th tee starter, Chikka warmed-up for the hot day with three consecutive pars. With his round being studded with six birdies, he putted in the first on the par-5 13th hole when he closed in the gap of 25 feet with a master stroke. He kept up the momentum with good putting and read the greens accurately to make the turn at four-under.
The highlight birdie of Chikka’s day was on the fourth. His tee shot landed behind the trees close to a water body on the fairway. Just when everyone thought he would bogey, he wriggled himself out of the dicey situation with a 20 feet putt. On the 6th hole too he came up with a good effort as he lipped out a birdie.
“I had a good round, I couldn’t have expected a better round. I fared well in the back line with my chipping and putting being good,” said Chikka after his round.