Coimbatore, May 19 -- On a windswept day at the Coimbatore Golf Club, Adhiraaj Singh Gill braved testing conditions to seize the lead on the opening day of the IGU Southern India Junior Boys Golf Championship on Tuesday.

The 16-year-old from Jalandhar, a relative greenhorn on the IGU circuit, shot two-over 74 for a one-shot lead over the in-form Vihaan Jain (75). Prince Bainsla, winner of the first event of the season, sat a further shot back in third place, according to a release.

The blustery conditions seemed to play havoc with the yardages and club selection, but Gill, playing his first full season on the IGU circuit, held his own on a tough scoring day.

Gill birdied the sixth and ninth holes on the front nine, as well as the 18th....