Jaipur, Dec 2 (NationPress) Seventeen-year-old newcomer Manoj S. delivered an impressive performance with a seven-under 63, securing the first-round lead at the Jaipur Open 2025, a prestigious INR 1 crore tournament organized by the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), held at the Rambagh Golf Club in Jaipur on Tuesday.

Hailing from Bengaluru, Manoj S. showcased his remarkable skills, achieving six top-10 finishes in his last eight PGTI outings. On Tuesday, he capitalized on his form, netting eight birdies while recording just one bogey.

Chasing closely behind, Shaurya Bhattacharya, Divyanshu Bajaj, Kushal Singh, and Arjun Prasad all posted scores of six-under 64, tying for second place.

Current PGTI Order of Merit leader Yuvraj Sandhu kicked off his tournament with a score of 65, highlighted by a remarkable stretch of five consecutive birdies. He found himself tied for sixth alongside Harsh Gangwar and Badal Hossain.

On the front nine, Manoj S. was two-under, but he intensified his game on the back nine, scoring five birdies without facing any significant obstacles. His precision was evident as he made three 20-footers and a 15-footer for birdies.

Reflecting on his performance, Manoj stated, “I participated in a junior event here around three years ago and did well. I am familiar with this course. Accurate tee shots are crucial since many fairways have trees. I hit 15 greens in regulation and birdied all four Par-5 holes.”

“The cornerstone of my success lately has been my stellar ball-striking, which has opened up many scoring chances. This skill set me up perfectly for the week ahead.”

Last year’s PGTI Order of Merit champion Veer Ahlawat registered a 67, placing him tied for 12th. Meanwhile, local golfer Prakhar Asawa achieved the best score among the home professionals with a 68, tying for 19th.