Lahiri dazzles with an eight-under-64, sets course record

Anirban Lahiri burnt the course with a dazzling eight-under 64 to grab the lead after the opening round of the PGTI Ahmedabad Masters, a PGTI Super Series event, here today.
The Bangalorean's round one exploits helped him set the course record at the Kalhaar Blues and Greens Golf Club which is staging its first ever professional event.
Angad Cheema of Panchkula posted a creditable six-under-66 to lie second on day one of the PGTI's season-opener for 2014.
Anirban was on a roll from the fifth hole onwards where he sank his first birdie from 10 feet. The 26-year-old went on a birdie-spree picking up strokes on six consecutive holes from the seventh to the 12th.

He landed it within five feet on the eighth and 10th and knocked down 15-footers on the ninth and 11th. Anirban, who recently finished third on the 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit, moved to nine-under for the day after birdies on the 14th and 15th. Lahiri closed with a bogey on the 18th after his tee shot landed in the bunker and rolled into the water.
"It was an unbelievable round. I didn't expect to fire such a low number. I played the course for the first time during my practice round yesterday and was a little confused about some holes.

"Nonetheless, my phenomenal hitting and outstanding approach shots helped me end the day at eight-under. I felt I was a little lucky as there was hardly any wind today. It could've been a different story had the wind been in play. I was nine-under over a stretch of 11 holes from the fifth to the 15th. This is my personal best," said Lahiri, the highest ranked Indian currently at World No. 105.
He added: "This is one of the best courses I have ever played at. The lay-out is comparable to world standards and the stretch from the 13th to the 16th can be very challenging if the wind is up. I've taken a lot of confidence from my performances last year as I not only recorded my best season on the Asian Tour but also won the last three tournaments that I played on the PGTI.