Siew Reap (Cambodia), Nov 19 (IANS) Golfer Vikrant Chopra drained three birdies on the back nine to bring home the best card among the four Indians with a three-under 69 that placed him tied for eighth at the end of the first round of the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open here Thursday.
Chopra was two shots behind Australia’s David Gleeson (67) and in tied second place was a bunch of six players, including three little known Thais, a Malaysian, Filipino and one Chinese Taipei.

The other three Indians, Shiv Kapur, Anirban Lahiri and Rahil Gangjee were all tied for 14th with steady rounds of 70 each.

Chopra, who is coming back from a wrist injury, said: “I am pretty happy with my game. I started off with a bogey but it was great to be able to bounce back. I hit a lot of fairways and found 16 greens so that worked very well for me. I was down with a wrist injury in the summer period and that’s one reason why I have not been playing that regularly. I am absolutely fine and now I feel more confident.”

Lahiri, who was down with stomach discomfort, managed to hold on for a 70.

“I started off good and was hitting it solid. If I can hit it close the next couple of days and keep my score in the 60s, I will contend on Sunday. I am comfortable on the course and it suits my game. Today should be the worst round of the tournament for me,” he said.

Gleeson, a two-time Asian Tour winner, shot a five-under-par 67 which included a birdie at the 18th hole to lead by one shot in the $300,000 event.

Filipino Artemio Murakami, Chinese Taipei’s Lin Wen-hong, Malaysian Khor Kheng Hwai and Thai trio Pariya Junhasavasdikul, Annop Tangkamolprasert and Atthaphon Prathummanee share second place on 68s at the Phokeethra Country Club.