Beijing: Indian golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar turned out to be the best among his compatriots after he shot a three-under 69 on the opening day of the Volvo China Open here at the CBD International Golf Course on Thursday.

Bhullar is tied ninth and trail leader Michael Lorenzo-Vera of France by two strokes. The next best Indian at the end of the first round was S.S.P. Chowrasia who fired two-over 74 to be tied at 66th spot.

Bhullar, a starter from the 10th, had an action-packed front nine. He birdied the 11th, 13th, 15th, 16th and bogeyed the 17th hole to make the turn at three under.

Chowrasia, however, had a better front nine, having knocked down birdies on the fourth and seventh holes despite beginning with a bogey on the first. On the back nine, Chowrasia dropped bogeys on the 10th, 12th and 17th hole.

Among the other Indians in the field, Gaurav Ghei shot 76 to be tied 98th while Rahil Gangjee fired 77 to be tied 119th.

Shiv Kapur's round of 79 placed him tied 134th, while Amandeep Johl was a stroke behind him in tied 140th place.

Earlier, Lorenzo-Vera set the pace when he fired a five-under-par 67 to take the first round lead. The 23-year-old Frenchman got off to a shaky start with an opening bogey but got himself back into the game with a birdie on the second followed by another two more in the sixth and ninth holes before making the turn in 33rd.

Meanwhile, Li Chao playing in front of a home crowd finished as the leading Chinese player, taking a share of the second place with British Simon Griffiths and Zane Scotland, American Jason Knutzon, Joost Luiten of the Netherlands, Ireland's Damien McGrane and Richard Finch. However, home favourite Liang Wen-Chong carded a 73 to take a share of the 42nd place.

Defending champion Markus Brier carded a 71 to finish tied 18th.

 

Source : IANS