Chakola emerges leader

Mumbai, Dec 16 (UNI) Joseph Chakola, a part of the Doha Asian Games silver medal winning team, got into a swinging rhythm from the word go and returned the day's best score of three-under 67 to occupy the top spot on the leaderboard on the first day of the Royal Challenge Western India Amateur Golf Championship at the Par-70 Bombay Presidency Golf Club here today.

Chakola, who occupies third place on the merit list 2006-07, hit four birdies and a bogey in his round of 18. Following Chakola home were Raj Randhawa, Ranjit Singh and Chakola's Asian Games teammate Anirban Lahiri, all tied for second spot on one under 69.

While Randhawa had three birdies and two bogies, Ranjit Singh hit six birdies, but his effort was negated a bit by five bogies. Anirban Lahiri, currently leading the order of merit 2006-07, hit three birdies and two bogies for his score of one-under 69. Occupying fifth spot was Ajay Singh, who returned a par-70 score thanks to his two birdies and an eagle and four bogies.

Chakola, who finished the 2005-2006 season on top of the merit list, has had a successful 2006-2007 season, finishing runner-up at the Golden Green Amateur and having two third place finishes at the Samarvir Sahi Amateur Golf Championship in Chandigarh and at the Eagleton Amateur in Bangalore.

Following are the top five finishers: Joseph Chakola 67; Raj Randhawa, Ranjit Singh, Anirban Lahiri 69; Ajay Singh 70.

UNI