Daijiworld Media Network - Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad, Aug 5: The inaugural Coal India Open teed off with a dramatic opening round at Kensville Golf & Country Club, as four golfers—Amardeep Malik (Noida), Anshul Kabthiyal (Delhi), and Angad Cheema and Karandeep Kochhar (both Chandigarh)—shared the lead at three-under 69 in the ?1 crore prize-money event.
The tournament marks the first event of the second half of the 2025 PGTI season, and saw players struggle with tricky green conditions, resulting in generally high scores across the board.
Just one shot behind the leaders at two-under 70 were Yuvraj Sandhu (PGTI Order of Merit leader), Om Prakash Chouhan, teenager Manoj S. from Bengaluru, and Ravi Kumar from Chandimandir, all tied for fifth.
Strong Starts Despite Testing Greens
20-year-old Anshul Kabthiyal, showcasing poise beyond his years, carded three birdies on the back nine, followed by a birdie and bogey on the front.
“I hardly missed a green today. My ball-striking was sharp and putting solid, apart from a three-putt on the sixth. I’ve worked a lot on my mindset during the mid-season break, and I’m hopeful it’ll reflect in my game,” said Anshul.
Angad Cheema, already a winner this season and known for his consistency, made five birdies and one double-bogey after a quiet front-nine.
“This round sets up a great opportunity to carry my form from the first half of the season,” said Cheema, who currently ranks 10th on the PGTI Order of Merit.
Amardeep Malik, who tallied five birdies against two bogeys, was surprised to find himself co-leading.
“The greens were really challenging. I didn’t expect a three-under to lead the field. The 50-footer birdie putt on the fifth was definitely the highlight,” he said.
Local Talent
Among local hopefuls, Ahmedabad’s Varun Parikh finished with a 74, placing him tied 32nd, the best among regional participants.
With a tightly packed leaderboard and tough course conditions, Round 2 promises more twists as players jostle for early momentum in the second half of the 2025 season.