``I putted really well today and this helped me to score,'' says Sandy who made a total of 25 putts over 18 holes. ``Though I did not drive off the tee badly, I think my iron play could have been sharper,'' he adds. Birdies on the par five 2nd, par four 5th and 6th saw him three under after six holes, but a double on the 7th and a bogey each on the 8th and 9th brought him to one over par for nine holes. He then went on to birdie the 13th, playing one under the back nine to finish at par for the day.

Second placed, two shots behind the leader are brothers, Jasjeet and Simarjeet Singh, along with Harjinder Kang. All three came in with similar rounds of 74. ``I was level par after the front nine holes and maintained this score till the 16th, but dropped two shots on the last two holes,'' said Harjinder after missing his trying putt on the 18th.

Pankaj Sethi and Saurav Bahuguna, who both played three over par 75, are tied for fifth place, followed by Rahul Ganjee, Aparup Saika, Gurbaaz Mann and his golfing friend Girish Virk at 76. The field, which was reduced by half after the pre-qualifying round, will be further reduced to the top 40 scores and ties after the cut is applied at the end of tomorrow's play. Most of the youngsters were content with playing conditions, but complained of the new 17th green which unleashed its danger. However, most hope to move further up the leader board tomorrow.

First round scores: 72 - Sandy Lehal; 74 - Harjinder Kang, Jasjeet Singh, Simarjeet Singh; 75 - Saurav Bahuguna, Pankaj Sethi; 76 - Gurbaaz Mann, Girish Virk, Rahul Ganjee, Aparup Saika; 77 - Jaideep Patwarthan, Vinod Kumar; 79 - Anitya Chand.