Friday, September 8 2006 12:21 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Singapore: Jyoti Randhawa puts himself in an excellent position of winning the 'Asian Major', the USD 3 million Barclay's Singapore Open, with a terrific surge on the second nine at the demanding Serapong Golf Course on the Sentosa Island.

Randhawa is sole third, one shot behind joint leaders Scott Strange and young Filipino Juvic Pagunsan, after the first round which sees only 17 players managing sub-par rounds.

Shiv Kapur, Asian Tour's Rookie of the Year for last season, is tied ninth with a score of one-under 70, which could have been better but for a finishing bogey.

Jeev Milkha Singh (tied 18th with an even par 71), SSP Chowrasia (tied 32nd with one over 72), Gurbaaz Mann and Harmeet Kahlon (both tied 47th with two-over 73) are the other Indians to do well on a tough day.

The other Indian scores are Arjun Singh and Gaurav Ghei (74, tied 64th), Amandeep Johl, Rahil Gangjee, Digvijay Singh and Uttam Singh Mundy (77 and tied 109th).

Strange, who started the day with a backache, ended with a big smile, more so with his girlfriend Lucinda caddying for him on a hot and humid afternoon.

Pagunsan, meanwhile, carried on from his performance in Brunei; where he achieves a career-best third place.

Strange had six birdies and two bogeys, while Pagunsan shot a bogey-free round with two birdies on either side of the course.

Defending champion Adam Scott shot one-under 70, while Ernie Els returned an even par 71.