Rajat Rai showcased an impressive performance in the opening round of the Western Amateur Championships at Denarau Golf & Racquet Club yesterday. The New Zealand-based golfer, playing off a handicap of two, achieved a remarkable gross score of 74, setting a high benchmark for his competitors. His consistent and poised play has earned him the top spot on the leaderboard, making him a standout player in the tournament.
Trailing behind Rai are Nitulesh Mali and Kaushal Tappoo, both finishing the round with scores of 75. Mali, who has a handicap of -2, recorded a net score of 77. PJ Singh and Shakil Pillay also had commendable rounds, scoring 75 and 78, respectively. The competition remains fierce, with Asish Chand completing the round with a gross score of 79, keeping him well in contention.
Conversely, golfers such as Biran Kumar and Rohit Chandra encountered more challenging rounds, each posting gross scores of 80. Jeral Sharma and Kavitesh Prasad followed with scores of 81 and 83, respectively, while Raghu C and Neeraj Chadha concluded their rounds with scores of 86.
A total of 30 golfers participated in the first day of competition. Golf Fiji president Amitesh Chandra expressed gratitude to the two sponsors, Coastal Rental and Sigatoka Motor Spare Parts.