International Series India: Niemann in lead, Kartik creates history
TNN | Feb 2, 2025, 08.18 AM IST
GURUGRAM: Making the cut. That was the mystery in the misty afternoon as many golfers hung around to discover whether they were above par or under. The top-64 and ties saw the business end, including a certain Englishman Paul Casey - he of the five Ryder Cups fame with 15 European Tour and three PGA Tour wins - as the line dropped to 8-over.
With wife Pollyanna on the bag this week, the 47-year-old turned back the clock with two eagles and two birdies in 12 holes of the third round at the International Series India presented by DLF before darkness halted play. His six-shot swing took him up 45 places to T-19. Just one of the sub-plots of the drama that is being played at DLF G&CC’s Gary Player course.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Another closer to home was the story of 15-year-old Kartik Singh. The 5-ft-8-in and growing teen was given a slot in a tournament full of hardened pros, courtesy his ranking of 129th in the WAGR, which made him the host country's top amateur. And the fact that he was playing on his home course played to his advantage as he became the youngest player from the subcontinent to make the cut on the Asian Tour. "The goal was to make the cut, especially because I was playing at home and it's just a very good experience overall," he said.
When Kartik found himself hitting balls next to the tournament's star attraction Bryson DeChambeau, he was awed by the Major winner's striking presence. "I'm not used to seeing the ball fly that far... His just keeps flying. So definitely it was motivating," he said in wide-mouthed wonder. The young one himself was thrust in the limelight on Friday when he was 4-under after 13 holes in his delayed second round, eventually dropping shots for a one-under to take his total to 4-over at T-30th place. "Pars are good on this course," the product of the DLF academy shared the vibe.
With a shotgun start for rounds 3 and 4 in order for the tournament to reach completion on Sunday, the Gurugram boy found himself on the course again after a short break. After 9 holes, he was 8-over for the 3rd round but only to step forward with more lessons learned.
Up ahead, Joaquin Niemann was progressing steadily. With a total of 7-under, the calm Chilean was a stroke ahead of Japan’s Kazuki Higa and three clear of American Ollie Schniederjans.
The highlight of the day, perhaps forgotten amidst the flurry of activities, was first-round leader Eugenio Chacarra's albatross on the par-5 8th. He holed his second shot with a 5-iron from 220 yards in his second round in the morning. Unfortunately, no cameras were present to capture this moment of brilliance. For the record, this was the 29th albatross overall on the Asian Tour; last year, there was one.
The Spaniard, choosing bright orange to liven up a dull Feb afternoon, found himself in the most-followed group with Bryson and home favourite Anirban Lahiri, the duo in identical blue Crushers GC tees. Starting from the showcase 18th, Lahiri was struggling at 4-over with a cold putter, DeChambeau hanging on at par while Chacarra seemed to be winning the race at oneunder with 10 holes to go in the unfinished 3rd round.
With wife Pollyanna on the bag this week, the 47-year-old turned back the clock with two eagles and two birdies in 12 holes of the third round at the International Series India presented by DLF before darkness halted play. His six-shot swing took him up 45 places to T-19. Just one of the sub-plots of the drama that is being played at DLF G&CC’s Gary Player course.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Another closer to home was the story of 15-year-old Kartik Singh. The 5-ft-8-in and growing teen was given a slot in a tournament full of hardened pros, courtesy his ranking of 129th in the WAGR, which made him the host country's top amateur. And the fact that he was playing on his home course played to his advantage as he became the youngest player from the subcontinent to make the cut on the Asian Tour. "The goal was to make the cut, especially because I was playing at home and it's just a very good experience overall," he said.
When Kartik found himself hitting balls next to the tournament's star attraction Bryson DeChambeau, he was awed by the Major winner's striking presence. "I'm not used to seeing the ball fly that far... His just keeps flying. So definitely it was motivating," he said in wide-mouthed wonder. The young one himself was thrust in the limelight on Friday when he was 4-under after 13 holes in his delayed second round, eventually dropping shots for a one-under to take his total to 4-over at T-30th place. "Pars are good on this course," the product of the DLF academy shared the vibe.
With a shotgun start for rounds 3 and 4 in order for the tournament to reach completion on Sunday, the Gurugram boy found himself on the course again after a short break. After 9 holes, he was 8-over for the 3rd round but only to step forward with more lessons learned.
Up ahead, Joaquin Niemann was progressing steadily. With a total of 7-under, the calm Chilean was a stroke ahead of Japan’s Kazuki Higa and three clear of American Ollie Schniederjans.
The highlight of the day, perhaps forgotten amidst the flurry of activities, was first-round leader Eugenio Chacarra's albatross on the par-5 8th. He holed his second shot with a 5-iron from 220 yards in his second round in the morning. Unfortunately, no cameras were present to capture this moment of brilliance. For the record, this was the 29th albatross overall on the Asian Tour; last year, there was one.
The Spaniard, choosing bright orange to liven up a dull Feb afternoon, found himself in the most-followed group with Bryson and home favourite Anirban Lahiri, the duo in identical blue Crushers GC tees. Starting from the showcase 18th, Lahiri was struggling at 4-over with a cold putter, DeChambeau hanging on at par while Chacarra seemed to be winning the race at oneunder with 10 holes to go in the unfinished 3rd round.
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