By IANS
Mallorca (Spain) : India’s Jyoti Randhawa, one of the early ones to finish his first round, shot a two-under-par 68 at the Mallorca Classic in Spain.
He was tied for 11th place before play was suspended Thursday due to lightning.
Randhawa started and finished his round with birdies and in between had an eventful round at the par-70 Pula Golf Club.
South African Andrew McLardy was the clubhouse leader with a 66 alongside Gary Murphy of Ireland.
Randhawa, who skipped last week’s Portugal Masters, overcame a double bogey on the 14th hole during his first round that also had five birdies and a bogey.
The Indian Open winner is currently 35th on the European Tour Order Of Merit and is due to play season-ending Volvo Masters of Europe next week at Valderrama where Jeev Milkha Singh will defend his title. Jeev is skipping the European Tour event this week.
Spanish star Sergio Garcia, winner here in 2004 and runner-up the last two years, opened with a 68 and was tied 11th with Randhawa.
McLardy and Murphy both shot four-under 66 to share the early lead though 60 players were unable to complete the opening round because of the thunderstorms. One stroke behind the duo are England’s Graeme Storm and James Hepworth plus Joakim Backstrom of Sweden.
England’s Richard Finch was also 4-under with 12 holes to play. Defending champion Niclas Fasth was three-under after seven holes.
The top 60 players on the money list after the tournament will be eligible for the season-ending Volvo Masters.