Jyoti Randhawa might be miles away from Chennai, but the star golfer played a tremendous role in the outcome of the opening day's play of the Hyundai-TNGF Open 2004, which began at the par-72, Cosmo-TNGF Golf Course in Chennai on Wednesday.
Amit Dube, who Randhawa tutored diligently during the off season, pulled off a tremendous round of golf to grab a one-stroke lead at six-under 66 on the very first day of the Amby Valley Golf Tour's 2004-05 season.
The quartet of four-time Money List winner Mukesh Kumar, Amritinder Singh, Pappan and S Madhaiah was tied for second place at five-under 67.
India Cements-sponsored Gaurav Ghei along with Rookie golfer Harinder Gupta, was placed sixth at 68.
Amit Dube, once one of India's top ranked amateurs, has from time given glimpses of his talent but not been unable to convert them into a triumph. Randhawa, who was in Delhi for a break this summer from his Japanese and Asian PGA Tour assignments, spent some quality time with the young Dube, tutoring him in the mental department of the game as well as handing him some important tips on the art of putting. Dube, for his part, put in hours of hard work on these suggested areas and the results were there for all to see on Wednesday.
Dube's round commenced on the tenth tee. The Noida Golf Club pro struck gold almost immediately with a birdie on the11th. Thereafter, Dube birdied the 14th, 16th, first, second, eighth and ninth. His only bogey of the day came on the sixth.
"The key to my success today was my really good short game," said the 30 year old, who found 17 greens in regulation and carded 29 putts.
"I owe all the credit to Jyoti, Digvijay Singh and my coach Kel Lewellyn," he said.
"Jyoti in particular taught me to mentally compose myself which has changed me as a golfer," added the leader.
Mukesh Kumar is hell bent on regaining the No. 1 position on the Order of Merit after it was unceremoniously snatched away from him last season by the extremely talented Ashok Kumar.
Today, the Mhow golfer took an assertive step in that direction with a brilliant back-nine fight-back that propelled him into joint second place.
A tenth tee starter, Mukesh began in style with a birdie on his opening hole. He however experienced a sudden loss of form to drop shots on the 11th and 18th. One-over on the first tee-box, Mukesh attacked the pin and was looking down a 12 feet eagle putt on that hole but his effort on the green lipped out. The birdie was however enough to restore his confidence and he reeled off five more on the second, fourth, sixth, eighth and ninth to finish with a 67.
Ahlawat leads amateur field: Abhishek Ahlawat shot a fine four-over 76, to assume a five stroke lead over IK Ponnappa and Karuna Alagnam in the amateur field.
SCORES (after 18 holes): 66 Amit Dube; 67 Mukesh Kumar, Amritinder Singh, Pappan, S Madhaiah; 68 Gaurav Ghei, Harinder Gupta; 69 Shiv Prakash, Ashok Kumar, Uttam Singh Mundy, Anura Roha, Rafiq Ali Amateurs: 76 Abhishek Ahlawat; 81 IK Ponnappa, Karuna Alagnam.
