New Delhi: SSP Chowrasia was the best placed Indian in sole fourth position, two shots behind the leaders, at the end of the opening round of Panasonic Open India here Thursday. There was a three-way tie for the lead as two Australians -- Kieran Pratt and Wade Ormsby -- and Singaporean Lam Chih Bing shared the top spot with rounds of five-under 67 each at the demanding and windy Delhi Golf Club.
Behind them was Chowrasia, a two-time winner of co-sanctioned events, at three-under 69. Seven players were at two-under 70 and another 17 at one-under 71. While Ormsby and Pratt came back with bogey-free rounds, Lam had one bogey on the 12th. Pratt also had an eagle, one of the six, including two by debutant Indian S Chikkarangappa that landed on the day, besides a stunning hole-in-one by rank outside Nabin Mandal, who did little else of note in his round of 77.
Three other Indians, young Angad Cheema, playing his first Asian Tour event, Chiragh Kumar and seasoned Sanjay Kumar shot two-under 70 each to be tied fifth on what was fairly difficult scoring day in windy conditions. Defending champion Digvijay Singh played a very steady one-under 71 with two birdies and just one bogey to be tied 12th in a bunch of 17 players that included seven Indians.
Shiv Kapur playing on his home course battled with two birdies in last five holes to come into red figures at one-under 71. Also tied at 71 was Anirban Lahiri with three birdies and two bogeys, Amardip Malik, Ajeetesh Sandhu, Vinod Kumar and Gulfam (Pappan).
Jeev Milkha Singh, the most successful Indian golfer, had back-to-back-bogeys on 15th and 16th, but still managed an even par start to be tied 29th, along with S Chikkarangappa, who like Cheema was playing his first Asian Tour event.
However, Gaganjeet Bhullar struggled to a 76 with just one birdie against five bogeys, four of which came on the back nine of the course, which was his first nine. He will need a good solid second round to ensure action over the weekend.
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