Yuvraj Sandhu starts the Digboi week by shooting nine-under par to take lead after round 1 at the Digboi Golf Links.

Defending champion Yuvraj Singh Sandhu of Chandigarh, a seven time winner,  fired a scintillating nine-under-par 63 to take the lead in round one of the Indian Oil Servo Masters at the Digboi Golf Links on Wednesday.

Sri Lankan Anura Rohana, who made two chip-ins on the day, returned an eight-under 64 to hold second place at the Rs. 75 lakh event. Delhi’s Kshitij Naveed Kaul was third at on while Greater Noida’s Arjun Sharma was a further shot back in fourth.

Yuvraj Sandhu, the current PGTI Order of Merit leader and winner of four titles this season, continued with his consistent form to make a flying start with three birdies on his first four holes. A bogey and birdie by the ninth hole meant that he made the turn on three-under. The 25-year-old then got back on track and picked up six shots on his way back to the clubhouse, landing the ball close to the pin consistently. Sandhu’s drive off the Tee on  the par-4 14th landed on the green to set up an eagle chance for him.  

Yuvraj said, “I’m feeling a little nostalgic coming back to the venue where I won my first PGTI Main Tour event last year. “This year the weather is better and that makes the playing experience at the Digboi  Golf Link that much more special. Yuvraj added that “The stretch of birdies from 11th hole onwards was the highlight of the day. After a good start, I had quite a few holes  where I had a chance to make a biride. On the back nine, I kept telling myself to hit maximum greens in regulation. “With that thought, I started hitting the ball close to the pin and got onto a birdie run. “I had a total of 16 greens in regulation today and thanks to my good ball striking, the longest putt I made was 15 feet.”

I am happy with my ball striking and putting. I am looking to continue with this momentum to wrap up this week