Synopsis
On March 4, Sri Lankan golfer N. Thangaraja secured the round one lead at the Ahmedabad Open 2025 with a remarkable seven-under 65. Michele Ortolani from Italy followed closely, while Delhi's Anshul Kabthiyal, Kapil Kumar, and Chandigarh's Harendra Gupta tied for third at two-under 70. The tournament is held at the Kensville Golf & Country Club.Key Takeaways
- Sri Lankan golfer N. Thangaraja leads with a score of seven-under 65.
- Italy’s Michele Ortolani is in second place at four-under 68.
- Delhi's Anshul Kabthiyal and Kapil Kumar are among those tied for third.
- Thangaraja's performance included an impressive eagle and several birdies.
- Challenging windy conditions were a factor during the round.
Ahmedabad, March 4 (NationPress) Sri Lankan golfer N. Thangaraja surged ahead in the opening round of the INR 1 crore Ahmedabad Open 2025 with an impressive seven-under 65, taking place at the Kensville Golf & Country Club nearby. Following closely was Italy’s Michele Ortolani, who ended the day at four-under 68. The third spot was shared by Delhi's Anshul Kabthiyal, Kapil Kumar, and Chandigarh’s Harendra Gupta, all tied at two-under 70.
N. Thangaraja, who finished third in last week's PGTI event in Raipur, maintained his excellent form on Tuesday. Starting from the 10th tee, he secured an eagle along with two birdies, offsetting one bogey on the back nine.
This 43-year-old, a four-time PGTI champion, excelled further on the front nine, claiming four birdies. Notably, he made two incredible 30-foot putts and landed a chip shot just inches from the hole. The highlight of his round was a spectacular punch shot from the trees on the seventh hole that concluded just three feet from the flag.
“Despite the windy conditions, I managed to perform well. I hit 13 greens in regulation, and my putting was exceptional. The best moment was definitely the punch shot from the trees on the seventh, where I aimed to find the edge of the green, but the ball ended up just three feet from the pin,” Thangaraja remarked after his round.
“I’m carrying the confidence from last week’s performance. Scoring a 65 under such challenging conditions boosts my self-belief as I continue in the tournament,” he added.
Michele Ortolani showcased a solid short game, making several ups and downs throughout his round. Fresh off a runner-up finish on the Asian Development Tour (ADT), Ortolani recorded five birdies and one bogey on Tuesday, highlighted by a superb bunker shot on the 14th that landed just inches from the hole, leading to a birdie.
Varun Parikh finished with a score of 73, placing him as the highest-ranked among local Ahmedabad players, tied for 14th.
