Taoyuan (Taiwan), Aug 25 (IANS) The Indian Golf Union (IGU) Order of Merit leaders in the boys and girls category Shubham Narain and Ridhima Dilawari shot a team total of two-under 70 to end day one at the tied 12th position at the Asia-Pacific Junior Golf Championship here on Tuesday.
Playing in the mixed four-ball format on day one, the second team of Karandeep Kochar and Aditi Ashok, both ranked second in the IGU Order of Merit, carded level-par to take 17th place at the Par-72 Sunrise Golf and Country club.
Delhi’s 17-year-old Ridhima shot the best round amongst the Indians as her card featured two birdies while Shubham, also 17, had two birdies and as many bogeys for a tied 12th spot along with Australia and host nation Chinese Taipei.
“It was a good round, but we could have holed more birdies to shoot a better score. Overall, both Shubham and I are happy with the way we played,” said Ridhima, who had finished 12th at the Queen Sirikit Cup Asia Pacific ladies team golf championship in Hong Kong, earlier this year.
“I enjoyed playing with Ridhima as my partner. She was very consistent and was always there for par. She allowed me to be aggressive and comfortable throughout the day,” said Shubham, who was ninth at the Faldo Series Asia grand final in China this year.
Meanwhile, 17-year old sensation, Aditi from Bengaluru, who came to Taiwan straight after winning the Ladies British Amateur Championship, played a bogey free round and converted a single birdie on the 18th.
“We played well today, but were unlucky on a few holes and couldn’t convert many birdies. But we have a good feeling so we should play better tomorrow,” said Aditi, who also won 2015 St. Rule Trophy at St. Andrews last month.
The youngest member of the squad, 16-year-old Karandeep from Chandigarh, who finished eighth at the US Kids Golf Championship in North Carolina in June this year, started the day with a birdie on the first and then bogeyed the ninth and 17th holes.
The Korean team was the leader after the opening round at seven-under 65, on a day when play was suspended for more than an hour due to fog and rain in the aftermath of a weekend typhoon.