Rajat Rai showcased an impressive performance in the opening round of the Western Amateur Championships at Denarau Golf & Racquet Club yesterday. The New Zealand player, who has a handicap of two, delivered an exceptional gross score of 74, setting a high benchmark for his competitors. His consistent and calm gameplay has placed him at the forefront of the leaderboard, making him a leading contender in the tournament.
Trailing closely behind are Nitulesh Mali and Kaushal Tappoo, who both recorded a score of 75. Notably, Nitulesh Mali, with a handicap of -2, achieved a net score of 77. PJ Singh and Shakil Pillay also demonstrated strong performances, finishing with gross scores of 75 and 78, respectively.
Asish Chand rounded out the competitive field with a gross score of 79, keeping him well in contention. Meanwhile, golfers Biran Kumar and Rohit Chandra encountered tougher rounds, each scoring 80. Jeral Sharma and Kavitesh Prasad finished with scores of 81 and 83, respectively, while Raghu C and Neeraj Chadha both concluded the day with a score of 86.
A total of 30 golfers participated on the first day. Golf Fiji president Amitesh Chandra expressed gratitude to sponsors Coastal Rental and Sigatoka Motor Spare Parts for their support.