Coimbatore, Sep 30 (NationPress) In the midst of challenging windy conditions, Gaurav Pratap Singh from Noida and Jamal Hossain from Bangladesh, who claimed victory last week on the PGTI, both recorded impressive scores of three-under 69 to jointly lead after the first round of the INR 1 crore Tamil Nadu Open 2025 at the Coimbatore Golf Club.

Arjun Prasad from Delhi, currently ranked second in the 2025 PGTI Order of Merit, finished with a score of two-under 70, securing the third position. Meanwhile, Manu Gandas from Gurugram, rookie Joysurjo Dey from Kolkata, and Anshul Patel from Ahmedabad all tied for fourth place with scores of 71.

Gaurav Pratap Singh, ranked 31st in the PGTI Order of Merit, faced a bogey on his opening hole but swiftly recovered with five birdies over the subsequent 14 holes, showcasing exceptional chip-putts. Although he conceded another bogey on the 17th hole, he concluded the day with a shared top score.

“In addition to some impressive chip-putts, I also managed to save several pars today. It was crucial for me to adhere to my game plan, and things fell into place thereafter. I've maintained consistency in the latter half of the season, achieving top-20 finishes in the last two events. I feel my performance is progressing well, and now it's about putting together four strong rounds,” said Gaurav, a multi-time PGTI champion, at the conclusion of the day's play.

Similarly, Jamal Hossain began his round with a bogey on the 10th hole but quickly turned things around, making birdies on the 15th and second holes thanks to remarkable chip shots, culminating in an eagle-two on the Par-4 sixth hole.

“I’m riding the momentum from last week and aiming to replicate my success from Hyderabad. However, I missed too many putts today, which is something I need to improve to stay competitive here,” Jamal commented.

S. Prasanth from Chennai was the top-performing Tamil Nadu professional, finishing tied for 52nd with a score of 77.