IGPL Bharath Classic: Kochhar One Behind Leader Runchanapong Aryan Roopa Also In Top-10

(MENAFN- IANS) El Jadida (Morocco), June 6 (IANS) Karandeep Kochhar of India posted a fine round of 6-under 66 and positioned himself in the tied second place after the first day of the USD 500,000 IGPL Bharath Classic at the Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort. The 26-year-old from Chandigarh is one shot behind the leader, Thailand's Runchanapong Youprayong, who carded 7-under 65 that included eight birdies against one bogey.

Kochhar, a four-time winner in India, added a breakthrough win on the IGPL Tour late last year with a victory in IGPL Dubai hosted by Shiv Kapur. Kochhar had a four-birdie streak early in the round from the second hole and turned in 5-under 31, before picking two more birdies against one bogey in his second nine for a 66.

Sharing the second place with Kochhar were Australia's Will Florimo and Austria's Nicklas Regner.

Thai star Runchanapong, who came into this week's event with a fine showing last week – a third place IGPL Morocco Rising Stars, benefitted from the experience of having played here, and took a one-shot lead in the IGPL Bharath Classic at the same venue.

The next best Indian in the field was Aryan Roopa Anand, who armed with confidence that leapfrogged since his win at the IGPL Congo, shot 4-under 68 despite two bogeys. He had six birdies including three in a row on the front nine of the course from the third to the fifth.

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