Dubai-born Rayhan Thomas made a strong start at the KGiSL Presents Coimbatore Open in India by shooting a two-under-par 70 in the opening round, leaving him tied for 16th place on the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI). The competition was fierce, with a three-way tie for the lead among Shaurya Bhattacharya, Ranjit Singh, and Yashas Chandra, who all shot a six-under 66 in intense humidity conditions at the 72-yard Coimbatore Golf Course. Italian Michele Ortolani and Milind Soni were one shot behind the leaders in a tie for fourth place.
Rayhan Thomas, who had recently competed in the International Series England before flying to India, had to quickly adjust to the change in climate. Despite the challenge, he described the opening day as enjoyable, with a mix of highs and lows in his game. Despite a double-bogey on Hole 11, Rayhan managed to recover well and finished with five birdies overall. He expressed his determination to maintain an aggressive approach in the upcoming rounds to secure a strong position on the leaderboard and make it through to the weekend.
The prize fund for the tournament stands at ₹1 Crore (AED 437,488), making it a lucrative event for golfers on the PGTI. Established in 2006, the PGTI is the governing body for professional golf in India, with Tata Steel as its title sponsor. Rayhan Thomas is scheduled to tee off at 8.15 pm on Thursday for the second round, with a cut expected after the completion of two rounds, allowing the top 50 players and ties to advance to the final two rounds of the tournament.
In conclusion, Rayhan Thomas’s performance at the KGiSL Presents Coimbatore Open reflects his talent and determination as a young golfer. With a solid start in the opening round and a positive mindset for the upcoming rounds, he is well-positioned to compete among the top players in the field and potentially secure a strong finish in the tournament. As the competition intensifies, Rayhan’s focus and aggressive approach will be key factors in determining his success on the Professional Golf Tour of India. Stay tuned for more updates on Rayhan Thomas’s performance at the Coimbatore Open and his journey towards becoming a prominent figure in the world of professional golf.