He was five-up after eight holes on the first day of the SRF Matchplay, but fourth seed Kahlon revved it up over the back nine, making that par-five 18th all significant.

Shaurya took a penalty drop, and finally stumbled onto the green in four shots. Kahlon was ready with his putter in just two shots and the match seemed headed right into a sudden-death play-off.

Then, the meager but awe-struck watching party near the clubhouse gasped as the youngster sank a 20-footer to give himself a par and a glimmer of a chance, and Kahlon, to spark further amazement, missed the birdie putt.

“There were a few nerves after that drive on the 18th, but I just told myself to concentrate on the positive way I had played all day,” Shaurya said, after pulling off the day’s biggest upset at the Delhi Golf Club, 1-up over the fourth seed. Shaurya plays Manav Jaini tomorrow.

Most other expected winners did just that, on a day that saw eight play-offs.

Top seed Ashok Kumar seemed headed into oblivion too, under the faded sunlight, three-down after five holes to Ranjit Singh. Then the pressure of the lead got to Ranjit, and Ashok got his game back on track.

He won the eighth, 13th and 15th, and it was suddenly all-square. Then Ranjit found the jungle with his second on the 16th, and as Ashok sat sprawled on the edge of the green, hit out short of the green and then too long over the pin. One-up with two to go, Ashok was back in command and certainly not giving up then. He won one-up, as did his second-round opponent Vinod Kumar.

Vijay Kumar wrapped up his match the earliest, six-up with five to go against Mandeo Singh Pathania. Mukesh Kumar was as emphatic, winning 6 & 5 over M Dharma.