Robert-Jan Derksen leads the field at the Avantha Masters
Robert-Jan Derksen from the Netherlands, carded a bogey-free round of six-under par 66 to take the lead at the Avantha Masters, which teed off yesterday at the DLF Golf and Country Club. Some players were still present on the field when the committee decided
to suspend the day’s play due to bad light.
Derksen played exceedingly well throughout the day and had no blemishes throughout his first round. He leads the tournament by a margin of just one shot over three players who are tied for the second position. Mark Foster of England, Julio Zapata of Argentina
and Darren Beck of Australia, shot five-under par and are currently tied for the second slot. This tournament is a curtain raiser for the 2011 season of the Asian Tour.
Play was suspended three hours earlier in the morning due to heavy fog at the DLF Golf and Country Club. A total of 66 players managed to tee off for the first round and the committee decided to start the second days proceeding at 7 am.
The Asian Tour seasoned campaigner, Chapchai Nirat of Thailand, carded a round of four-under par 68 and had to be content with a joint fifth slot. The Thai is among the six players who also carded a round of four-under par 68. There are seven players who
are currently placed at four-under par. These players just have a deficit of two shots over the leader Derksen. This list also included the young rising star of India, Rashid Khan. Another name to be mentioned among this group is of India’s Jeev Milka Singh,
who has been a two-time Asian number one. Singh played five-under par for his front nine, but had two blemishes on his back-nine and managed to finish with a round of 68.
When play finally began on the first day, it was the Dutchman who made a move and was leading the tournament with a round of six-under par. He made six birdies and there were no blemishes during his round. Derksen made birdies on hole numbers 3,6,9,12,17
and 18.
Meanwhile Mark Foster of England, had a round of five-under par 67 and had to be at the second spot. He had three bogeys during his round, but recovered from the shots which he lost. Foster had six birdies and an eagle on the par-4 15th to post
a round of 67. Zapata of Argentina had four birdies and an eagle on the par-5 6th hole, as he also managed to finish with a 67 for the day.
The local lad, Jeev Milka Singh, started the tournament with a commendable round of four-under par 68. He also had to face with a two-stroke penalty on the par-4 13th, as he failed to follow the local rules. It was the 13th hole where
he made a double-bogey, but Singh closed his round with a superb eagle on the par-5 9th hole where he made a long putt.
The highlight of the day was from the youngster Khan, who is playing his first Asian Tour match and managed to finish among the top contenders. Khan impressed many of his fans cheering for him in the gallery by his shot-making.
The second day will tee off today, with some intense and fierce competition expected from the players on the field.
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