Boys 15 to 18 leader Prince Bainsla in action on day one of the US Kids Golf Indian Championship at the Classic Golf and Country Club on Wednesday. Image courtesy USKGI.
By Rahul Banerji
Prince Bainsla, who turns 16 later this month, produced the best card on the opening day of the US Kids Golf Indian Championship at the Classic Golf and Country Club near Manesar on Wednesday.
Bainsla, who has been supported by US Kids India, shot a round 6 under par 66 in the Boys 15-18 section ahead of Arshvant Srivastava (71), who could not get his birdie putts to drop.
Bainsla, champion in the 2024 Boys 13-14 segment, got off to a flier with four birdies in his first four holes.
Two more followed on seven and nine as he made the turn in a stunning 6 under 30. The birdie spree then took a pause before he made his seventh on hole 12.
Five pars from the 13th to 17th saw him reach the par-5 18th hole at 7 under where he dropped a shot for the only blemish of his day.
Arshvant had a frustrating day with five pars to begin with and then had a bogey followed by a birdie on six and seven to turn in level par.
A bogey on 11 saw him go over par, but two good birdies on 16 and 18 ensured an under par score.
Quality golf
US Kids Golf India president Rajesh Srivastava said: “With so many low scores on the opening day, it is heartening to see Tour, which is well-established in India and across Asia, produce quality golf.
“By next year, we will have more local events and there will be a lot of competitions featuring golfers from about a dozen Asian countries.
“US Kids Golf is achieving its mission of taking the sport all over India and Asia. We now look forward to spreading it across Asia with India as the hub.”
Shashank Sachin Gadre was level par in the highly competitive category.
Another standout performer on the first day was Ridhima Singh in Girls 13-14 with a 4 under 68.
Ridhima opened with three birdies but then dropped a shot. Another birdie spree took her to 5 under after seven holes but a bogey on eight meant she turned in 4 under.
On the back nine she bogeyed 10 and 12, but rallied with birdies on 14 and 18 for a 68 to lead by six shots over Shambhavi Chaturvedi and Shiksha Jain, who carded 74 each.
The diminutive Nihal Cheema produced an even par 36 in his 9-hole round for Boys 8 to lead arch-rival Zowra Sikand (41 by five shots.
Healthy edge
Arihaan Beri (72) held a 6-shot lead over Devvrat Singh (78) in the Boys 13-14, while Drona Singh Dhull (73) led Aayan Chhita of South Africa by three shots in the Boys 11 section.
Malaysian youngster Raja Muhammad also shot a 73 to lead Indians Adit Veeramachaneni and Hridaan Saraogi by two shots in the Boys 12 segment.
Naasyha S. Sinha, who finished bogey-bogey, still led the Girls 8 section with a 9-hole score of 37 and Taashi Jain was second at 42.
Another talented young star, Gairat Kaur Kahlon shared the lead in the Girls 9-10 with Aadya Kaushal on 3 over 75.
The players stand to earn Priority Points to qualify for the US Kids European and World Championships in 2026.
They are also playing for World Amateur Golf Ranking points, which determines their qualification for numerous international events. There are two rounds left in the fifth edition of the US Kids Golf Indian Championship.
Day 1 results
Boys
Age 7 (9 holes): 1. Keeon Agarwal (42); 2. Adir Singh Chawla (50);
Age 8 (9 holes): 1. Nihal Cheema (36); .2. Zowra Sikand (41)
Age 9: 1. Samar Singh (76); 2. Ayaan Mittal (80);
Age 10: 1. Vedaansh Jain (79); 2. Ryan (82);
Age 11: 1. Drona Singh Dhull (73); 2. Aayan Chhita (SAF) (75);
Age 12: Raja Muhammad Syakir (Mal) 73; T2. Hridaan Saraogi (75), Adit Veeramachaneni (75);
Age 13-14: 1. Arihaan Beri (72); 2. Devvrat Singh (78);
Age 15-18: Prince Bainsla (66); 2. Arshvant Srivastava (71);
Girls
Age 8 (9 holes): 1. Naasyha S Sinha (37), 2. Taashi Jain (42)
Age 9-10: T1. Gairat Kaur Kahlon (75) and Aadya Kaushal (75)
Age 11-12: 1. Aaradhya Rawat (76); 2. Mahi Srivastava (80);
Age 13-14: 1. Ridhima Singh (68); T2. Shambhavi Chaturvedi (74) and Shiksha Jain (74)
Age 15-18: 1. Preitisha Kaur Gill (76); 2. Samaira Tomar (77);
Also read: Ojaswini, Nihaal fourth, Kabir fifth at US Kids World C’ships
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