May 1, 2014:India’s ace golfer Jeev Milkha Singh matched the score of five-under 67 with compatriot and Indonesian Masters Champion, Anirban Lahiri in the opening round of Laguna Championship.
However, the championship is currently led by Thai youngster, Panuphol Pittayara, who carded flawless nine-under 63 on Thursday in Singapore. The 21-year-old’s 63 came from nine birdies in his bogey-free first round.
Scotsman Scott Jamieson shot eight under 64 to share second spot with David Lipsky of USA and Kim Byung-Jun of Korea. Mithun Perera of Srilanka shares fifth spot with Sweden’s Kristopher Broberg, after making seven-under 65 in the opening round at Laguna National.
Seasoned Jeev’s 67 came from eight birdies, but a bogey on third and a double bogey on 17th slowed his pace to station tied 16th on the leader board with Lahiri.
While, An eagle on second hole of front nine and four birdies on 8th, 15th, 17th and 18th hole against one bogey on 5th, ensured a fine start for Lahiri, a four time Asian tour title winner. In-form, 26-year-old Indian has entered as one of the favourite at the $1.5 million event being played at Laguna National Golf and Country Club, Singapore.
Digvijay Singh and SSP Chowrasia also gave a fine start at Laguna by signing four under 68 in the first round to lie at 26th place. Chirag Kumar was close behind with three under 69. Rashid Khan closed in with a par round of 72. Shiv Kapur was unimpressive with two-over 74 in Singapore. Jyoti Randhawa ended the first round with disappointing five over par 77. Rahil Gangjee was five under on 15th hole when the play was suspended due to darkness.
Panuphol, who turned professional at a young age of 14 in 2007 and is highly regarded as the next rising star to emerge from Thailand. He earned his Asian Tour card through Qualifying School in January 2011 and finished runners up in the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters same year. In 2012, Panuphol challenged for his first Asian Tour title at the Hero Indian Open but bogeyed the last hole to miss out on a play-off berth with Richie Ramsay and Thaworn Wiratchant, who eventually won the tournament. In the following season, he claimed two top-five results highlighted by his fourth place finish at the Queen’s Cup on home soil.
