Chandigarh, Nov 11 (NationPress) Star golfer Manu Gandas delivered an impressive six-under 66, securing the clubhouse lead on the first day of the inaugural Trident Open 2025, a prestigious INR 1 crore tournament taking place at the Chandigarh Golf Club.

Veteran player Shamim Khan, who triumphed in the last PGTI event, along with Shaurya Bhattacharya and Md Somrat Sikdar from Bangladesh, are currently tied for second, each posting a score of four-under 68.

The opening round was halted on Tuesday due to diminishing daylight, with play suspended at 5:30 PM local time. Out of 126 competitors, twelve players could not complete their rounds and will resume play at 6:40 AM on Wednesday.

Among local players, Akshay Sharma holds the highest position, finishing with a score of 69, which places him tied for fifth.

PGTI ranking leader Yuvraj Sandhu and fellow competitor Angad Cheema, both prominent figures in the tournament, ended the day with scores of 72.

At 29, Manu Gandas, the 2022 PGTI Order of Merit champion, last claimed victory in early 2024. However, he’s showing signs of a return to form with several strong performances recently, currently sitting 14th in the PGTI merit list after securing six top-10 finishes, including two runner-ups in his last seven outings.

During his round, Gandas found the fairways consistently, executing several successful putts from seven to ten feet. Notably, he made a remarkable 27-foot birdie on the eighth hole, following up with two birdies on the front nine and an additional four on the back.

“I’m pleased with how today unfolded. I created many opportunities. Although I missed some putts, it was a solid round. I aim to maintain this momentum,” said Manu.

“My game is progressing well with numerous strong scores in recent weeks. Building on the positives from last month, I’m optimistic about achieving even better results soon. As always, accurate tee shots will be crucial to scoring well on this course.”