Rajat Rai showcased an impressive performance in the opening round of the Western Amateur Championships at Denarau Golf & Racquet Club. The New Zealand-based golfer, who has a handicap of two, recorded an exceptional gross score of 74, setting a high bar for his fellow competitors.
Rai’s focused and steady gameplay has placed him at the top of the leaderboard, making him a key player to watch in the event. Trailing closely behind him are Nitulesh Mali and Kaushal Tappoo, both of whom finished with scores of 75. Notably, Mali, who has a handicap of -2, achieved a net score of 77.
PJ Singh and Shakil Pillay also delivered strong performances, scoring 75 and 78, respectively. The competition remains competitive, with Asish Chand finishing with a gross score of 79, keeping him in contention.
On the flip side, golfers Biran Kumar and Rohit Chandra encountered challenging rounds, both finishing with gross scores of 80. Jeral Sharma and Kavitesh Prasad followed with scores of 81 and 83, while Raghu C and Neeraj Chadha ended with scores of 86.
A total of 30 golfers participated on the first day of the tournament. Golf Fiji president Amitesh Chandra expressed gratitude to the two sponsors, Coastal Rental and Sigatoka Motor Spare Parts.