Navi Mumbai, Dec 16 (NationPress) India's Veer Ahlawat, who claimed victory on the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) just two weeks ago, maintained his impressive performance with a remarkable six-under 65, granting him a two-shot advantage on the opening day of the INR 1 crore CIDCO Open 2025. This event marks the inaugural professional tournament hosted at the Kharghar Valley Golf Course (KVGC) in Navi Mumbai.

As the first competitive round unfolded at the KVGC on Tuesday, Ahlawat's 65 established a new course record. Meanwhile, Italy's Michele Ortolani and American Koichiro Sato both finished the day with scores of four-under 67, placing them in a tied second position.

Among the top eight players, two international competitors also made their mark: Joshua Seale from Uganda and N. Thangaraja from Sri Lanka, who were tied for fourth with scores of 68, alongside Indian players Manoj S, Dhruv Sheoran, and Manu Gandas.

Notably, both Dipankar Kaushal (69) and Mani Ram (75) recorded holes-in-one, placing them tied 10th and tied 69th, respectively. Mani Ram, who achieved the first hole-in-one at this new venue, celebrated his success on the 17th hole, while Dipankar accomplished his on the third hole during the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited (CIDCO) Open.

Veer Ahlawat, commencing his round from the 10th tee, gained early momentum with a three-foot birdie on the 12th and a remarkable 20-foot eagle on the 14th. The 29-year-old golfer capitalized on his long-hitting capabilities on a course designed for distance players, adding further birdies on the first and second holes. Ahlawat capped off his day with a 15-foot birdie on the fourth hole.

“I've felt great about my game since returning to the PGTI in October, achieving positive results, including a win. This course aligns well with my strengths as I believe three out of the four Par-5s are reachable in two shots, and a couple of Par-4s are within my driving range. However, after competing in the colder climate in Delhi last week, adapting to the warmer conditions here was essential. I thoroughly enjoyed my first competitive outing at the KVGC, as it features an excellent layout,” Ahlawat remarked.