By IANS,
Cologne : Jeev Milkha Singh, still suffering from an ankle injury, slipped over the last few holes as he finished with a one-over 73, which was the best effort from amongst the Indian challengers at the Mercedes-Benz Championship on the European Tour.
As Jeev was placed tied 32nd, the remaining Indian players had a poor day as Jyoti Randhawa shot five over 77 to be tied 68th. S.S.P. Chowrasia’s round of seven over 79 placed him 72nd.
England’s Richard Finch and Frenchman Jean-Francois Lucquin shared the lead at six under 66.
Jeev made birdies on the 15th and 17th and dropped bogeys on the second, 16th and 18th.
Daniel Chopra, winner of the Mercedes Bens Championships on US Tour and looking for a double, shot a poor 78 in first round.
Finch, who won the Irish Open in May, birdied five of his first seven holes and had four birdies on the back nine.
Robert Karlsson followed the leaders with a 67. He is one of four European players who are using the tournament to warm up for next week’s Ryder Cup in Louisville, Ky.
Ross Fisher was at 68, with Anders Hansen and James Kingston at 69. Defending champion Søren Hansen, another member of the Ryder Cup team, shot a 73. He is trying to become the first player to win this title in consecutive years.
The two other European Ryder Cup players at this tournament are Graeme McDowell and Miguel Angel Jimenez; both shot 72.
Fred Couples and John Daly started strong but faded. Couples (75) made an eagle on his first hole and a birdie on his second. Daly (73) birdied his first two holes. Retief Goosen, the 2005 champion, shot a 76, and four-time champion Bernhard Langer was at 70.