August 21, 2014
The man is in good form and it appears he wants to keep it going. SSP Chowrasia is coming off a top ten finish and Denmark and a rousing start in Prague saw the Indian join a group of ten men at four under 68, tied in third. Shiv Kapur posted a 71, but Gaganjeet Bhullar and Jeev Milkha Singh managed only an even par 72 to trail behind in 62nd place. Jamie Donaldson fired a 66 to gain a one shot after the first round of the Czech Masters at the Albatross Golf Resort.
Chowrasia made three birdies on the front nine to make the turn in 34, the only blemish a bogey at the 195 yard 7th hole. Back to back birdies at the 11th and 12th saw the Indian go four under, but he slipped back when he made consecutive bogeys at the 14th and 15th holes. Chowrasia recovered immediately to post birdies at the 16th and 17th as he climbed back up the leader board.
Shiv Kapur made six birdies in an up and down first round, but a double bogey at the 15th and three other bogeys offset most of his effort, forcing him to settle for a 71. Kapur was in T45 at the end of the first day. Bhullar made as many birdies as he did bogeys – four each as he settled for a tame even par 72 that saw him needing some good golf on Friday to avoid being sidelined for the weekend.
Milkha Singh made a promising start, birdies at the second and fourth holes lifting him to two under earlier in the round. But his joy did not last long – as the Chandigarh golfer gave away strokes at 8th and 13th amidst a series of par putts to settle for a 72. Bhullar and Singh are tied in 62nd and unless they find a score below par on Friday, run a real risk of missing the cut.
Donaldson made four birdies on either side of his journey yesterday to sign off with a 66 to take command of the leaderboard. Mikael Lundberg, six birdies and a solitary bogey, is trailing him by one stroke going into the second round.
Report by Anand Datla
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