Thaindian News

Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei), July 29 (IANS) Three birdies in the last five holes saw Indian golfer Gurki Shergill come in with a round of five-under 66 that placed him tied fifth at the end of the first round in the Brunei Open here Thursday.

Shergill, who won his first pro title last year on the Indian Tour, is the best placed among the ten Indians in the fray in the tournament, which heralded the start of the second half of the season for the Asian Tour. Shergill played from the tenth and went around the front stretch of the course in four-under 31.

Thailand’s Thammanoon Srirot produced a superb chip-in birdie on the last hole to equal the course record of nine-under-par 62 in the first round. He had a flawless round with nine birdies to open up a two-stroke lead over Bangladesh’s Siddikur who was one of two players to shoot a hole-in-one at the Empire Hotel and Country Club.

The next best Indian was Gaganjeet Bhullar at two-under 69 in tied 28th place. Anirban Lahiri, looking for his maiden Asian Tour triumph, shot a one-under 70 in 38th place, the same as C. Muniyappa, the Hero Honda Indian Open champion.

Digvijay Singh (71) in tied 62nd place, Himmat Rai (73) in 91st place, Baaz Mann and Amandeep Johl (77 each) in tied 131st place and Rahil Gangjee (78) in 134th place were the other Indians in the fray.

South Korea’s Lee Sung and Australia’s Adam Groom, who shot two eagles, took a share of third placing on 65s while South Africa’s Jbe Kruger, Shergill and Thailand’s Panuwat Muenlek were a stroke back in tied fifth place.

Thammanoon, a five-time Asian Tour winner, brilliantly made the turn in 29 before adding three birdies on the back nine. He was delighted to end his round on a high note when he sank his chip from 25 yards out on the 18th hole.

Chinese Taipei’s Sung Mao-chang blasted the first ace on the 14th hole but signed a 74 at the $300,000 Asian Tour full field tournament.