Aditya Bhandarkar, returning to competitive golf after a year, began the day with birdies on the first two holes including a 15-feet conversion on the first hole to shake off the nerves. The 35-year-old then added two more birdies and bogeys each on the front nine. Bhandarkar holed it from the rough from 50 yards out for birdie on the ninth.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Aditya picked up another three birdies on the back nine thanks to two more outstanding wedge shots and an 18-feet conversion.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Bhandarkar said, \u201cI had some nerves at the start today as I was playing my first competitive round after one year. I just told myself to make good contact on the first tee shot as that would help settle the nerves. I managed to do that, and the pressure disappeared by the third hole. The birdie on the ninth hole was the highlight of my day as I made an exceptional recovery after landing it in the hazard.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The three players tied in second place with scores of 67 were Dhruv Bopanna, amateur Hoshi Rakesh Yadav and Czechia\u2019s Stepan Danek.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Out of a total field of 132, the top 25 players (+ ties) will qualify from Pre-Qualifying III, a 36-hole event, for the Final Qualifying Stage. This is the last of the three pre-qualifying events.<\/p>\r\n\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2024\/02\/pga-tour-2024-aditya-bhandarkar-takes-the-opening-round-honours-at-pre-qualifying-iii.JPG", "alt_img": "PGA Tour 2024: Aditya Bhandarkar takes the opening round honours at Pre-Qualifying III", "alt_title": "PGA Tour 2024: Aditya Bhandarkar takes the opening round honours at Pre-Qualifying III", "image1": null, "video": null, "seo_title": "PGA Tour 2024: Aditya Bhandarkar Takes The Opening Round Honours At Pre-Qualifying III On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "PGA Tour 2024: Aditya Bhandarkar Takes The Opening Round Honours At Pre-Qualifying III, Professional Golf Tour: Pune\u2019s Aditya Bhandarkar returned a five-under 66 to take the opening round honours at Pre-Qualifying III of.", "seo_keywords": "Aditya Bhandarkar, Qualifying III, Professional Golf Tour, Qualifying School, Golmuri Golf Course, Dhruv Bopanna, Hoshi Rakesh Yadav, Stepan Danek, Final Qualifying Stage", "tag": "", "tagging": "Aditya Bhandarkar, Qualifying III, Professional Golf Tour, Qualifying School, Golmuri Golf Course, Dhruv Bopanna, Hoshi Rakesh Yadav, Stepan Danek, Final Qualifying Stage", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": null, "slug": "pga-tour-2024-aditya-bhandarkar-takes-the-opening-round-honours-at-pre-qualifying-iii", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": null, "ians_time": null, "server_time": null, "trash": "0", "view_count": "573", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "0", "created": "2024-02-02 20:30:04", "updated": "2024-02-02 20:30:04", "img_from": "Image Source: IANS", "img_source": null, "schedule_publish": null, "news_keywords": "Aditya Bhandarkar, Qualifying III, Professional Golf Tour, Qualifying School, Golmuri Golf Course, Dhruv Bopanna, Hoshi Rakesh Yadav, Stepan Danek, Final Qualifying Stage", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "1", "google_feed": "1", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "23", "jio_date": "2024-02-02 20:30:04", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "0", "breaking_news": "0", "google_date": null, "featured": "0", "sports_name": "golf", "cnmid": "860884", "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/sports-news\/pga-tour-2024-aditya-bhandarkar-takes-the-opening-round-honours-at-pre-qualifying-iii-12859" }