The Armada takes positions at the start of the Delhi Challenge. Up to five of ours have made it among the top 35 of the tournament after the first 18 holes. In a privileged position are Víctor Pastor and Joel Moscatel (-5). Both have signed a card of 67 strokes and are among the top ten in the tournament. Quim Vidal (-4), Lucas Vacarisas and Javi Sainz (-3) also want to join the party.
You will have already noted it, but add to your favourites list Martin Couvra (-7). Week after week, the very young Frenchman signs up for the leading positions. This year he has not yet won, but he has made the cut in all four tournaments and already has two top 10s. In the Delhi Challenge he has started, one more tournament, with the engine running. The young Frenchman who won last year’s Challenge de España in Seville has signed seven under par and shares the lead with Englishman Steve Brown (-7).
Two strokes from the lead is a Víctor Pastor who does not want to get off the wave. The Andalusian continues in his line at the start of this season and seeks to take advantage in India of the great form he is going through. Today at Classic Golf & Country Club he sealed a spectacular end of the round. He arrived at the tee of hole 14 with one stroke under par after three hits and two mistakes. In fact, he arrived with the round a bit stopped after four consecutive pars and with a result that even left him out of the provisional cut. At that moment the Cordovan took out his artillery for a walk and with four birdies in the last five flags he climbed sixty places to sneak into the top 10. Víctor is sweet and wants to take advantage of it.
Next to him we find on the table a Joel Moscatel who today has brushed perfection. This is how the player himself felt: “I am very happy, I have played very well and except for the two bogeys I have made, in the rest of the holes I have left birdie options practically in all, it is one of those days when you are very solid and everything goes as you want”, the Catalan summed up. Moscatel comes from achieving a magnificent top 20 in Kenya and wants to endorse in the Challenge Tour all the comfort he is finding in the DP World Tour.
From Catalan to Catalan. From Joel Moscatel to Quim Vidal (-4). The latter has been peeking his paw under the door for weeks. Good rounds and solid play that is lacking a bit more continuity with the putter. Today, one more day, he has once again shown off from the tee and has known how to take full advantage of the par fives. It seems that in India he has a good opportunity to achieve a good result and is confident in being able to fine-tune the putter.
Good round also for Javi Sainz (-3). The Basque arrives in India without having made the cut in the three previous tournaments he has played in the Challenge this season and with the need to start adding points and confidence as soon as possible. With rounds like today’s the path begins to be a little smoother. The Biscayan’s round is especially meritorious after starting with two consecutive bogeys. Sainz has had patience and has been able to turn the situation around without making any more mistakes throughout the round. Five birdies have allowed him to deliver a card of 69 strokes.
Tied with Javi is Lucas Vacarisas (-3). A return to competition of many carats if we take into account that he has hardly been able to train in recent weeks due to the bone edema that worsened in Kenya. If we add to this that the Catalan admits that he cannot yet force 100%, this round of three under par with an eagle included on hole 3 takes on special meaning. We will see if the wrist respects him and the pains do not return.
Less luck has had Borja Virto (PAR), but he still has plenty of margin to get into the weekend of the tournament. It will be more difficult for Alejandro Cañizares (+6) who after delivering a card of 78 strokes tomorrow will have to fly very low to give himself options to make the cut.
