By IANS
Jakarta : Jeev Milkha Singh opened and closed the round with a bunch of birdies at the wet, wind-swept Cengkareng Golf Club course for his best start of the year with a five-under 65 on the first day of the Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesia Open Thursday.
The former Asia No. 1 from Chandigarh was lying third behind Australian David Branson and the Dutch Joost Luiten who charged into a share of the early first-round lead with six-under 64.
A total of 42 players did not complete their rounds and will return early Friday to complete the first round.
Also starting fairly well were Jyoti Randhawa (68) and Shiv Kapur (69) in the morning. However, Amandeep Johl after being two-under on front nine, went five over on back nine with three doubles bogeys and ended with a 75.
Of the other Indians Arjun Atwal was well placed at four-under after 17 when play was stopped, while Gaurav Ghei was three-under through 15 holes and Rahil Gangjee was even par after 12.
Jeev, who missed the cut last week in the inaugural EMAAR-MGF Indian Masters, coped with the elements very well to ensure a fine start.
Jeev, who won four events in 2006, displayed some great solid ball-striking display. Hoping to regain his winning ways, he said: I’m not really thinking about it (winning). I’m just going to go through my process, follow my routine and see what comes my way.”
“I have started very well which is encouraging but we will have to wait and see what happens over the next three days.”
Jeev teed off from the tenth and after a par on his first hole, he had three birdies in a row from 11th to go three-under after four holes. He maintained the tempo and did not drop a shot through the backstretch of the course.
His first blemish was the bogey at third. But he quickly recovered and had three birdies in his last three holes to come back with a five-under 65.
Asian Tour’s No.1 Liang Wen-chong of China, Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng and Argentina’s Juan Abbate all shot 65s at the $1.2 million co-sanctioned event between the Asian Tour and European Tour.
Liang’s early season form also got off to a good start when he came out of the blocks with four birdies on the front nine before closing with a total of seven birdies against two bogeys.
Defending champion Mikko Ilonen of Finland openedis campaign with a 66 for tied 10th position. Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant, the 2005 Indonesia Open champion, overcame a sluggish start to shoot a 67,while Ryder Cup stars Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley shot 68s.