Pukhraj Singh Gill, who finished in the top-six in two of the three IGU junior events this season, made a good start in the Usha Karnataka Junior Golf with an opening round of even par 72 and took a one-shot lead at the end of the first day.
At the 7100-yard Eagleton Golf Club, the 16-year-old Gill, who also won the North Zone qualifiers this season, started from the 10th and was one-under for his first nine holes with two birdies on the 13th and 18th.
On his second nine, the front side of the course, Gill dropped a bogey on par-4 seventh and finished one-over and a day's work of 72.
Little-known Raghu Bir Choudhary was one shot behind in tied second place alongside the junior National champion, Viraj Madappa, 15-year-old Piyush Sangwan, who was second in the last event, Usha Delhi Juniors.
All three shot 73.
Tapendra Ghai, Manu Gandas and Varun Pariskh carded 74 each in tied fifth place.
In Category B, Arjun Prasad led the field with a card of 75 that had three bogeys and no birdies, while Tanvir Kahlon and Kartik Sharma carded 77 each in tied second place.
