Seongnam (Korea): India’s Ajeetesh Sandhu played brilliantly on a cold and windy day to emerge as the first round leader with four-under-par 67 score while Shiv Kapur finished the day tied fifth at the 37th GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf Championship here Thursday.
Sandhu, who ended the day with a one-shot lead, continued to showcase the strength of Indian golf with a performance that threatens to break the Korean stronghold at the event which has not been won by a foreign player since Mark Calcavecchia of the United States in 2004.
While Sandhu has six birdies against two bogeys, another Indian Kapur had a card of two-under 69 with five birdies, one bogey and a double bogey.
Among other Indians Gaganjeet Bhullar and S Chikkarangappa shot 72 each to be tied 33rd.
Jeev Milkha singh (74) was tied 70th while Arjun Atwal and Jyoti Randhawa with 75 each were tied 87th and Khalin Joshi (76) was tied 100th.
The Korean trio of Heungchol Joo, LeeDong Ha and JaeBum Park stayed close to Sandhu when they signed for matching 68s at the Namseoul Country Club while Spanish Javi Colomo, Thai Jazz Janewattananond, Australian Terry Pilkadaris are a further shot back from the Koreans after they all posted a 69 at the approx USD 925,000 event.
After firing four birdies in his front-nine, the 29-year-old Sandhu had to battle the elements when play resumed. He showed character by recovering quickly after dropping shots on 14th and 16th holes with birdies on 15th and 17th to sit atop the leaderboard on his own.
“The conditions were tough today. It was cold and windy in the beginning and then the rain came. I would have taken four-under at the beginning of the day but I’m happy with that. Only 18 holes done but I’m happy with the way I’m playing,” Sandhu said.
Press trust of india
