Jeev, Randhawa shot even par rounds at Panasonic Open

Shiga (Japan), Sep 22 (PTI) Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti
Randhawa, the only two Indians to have won titles in Japan,
used all their experience to stay afloat on the opening day of
the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open on Thursday after they shot
even par 71 to be placed tied 33rd.
The duo was seven behind leader, Jbe Kruger of South
Africa (64), who held a three-shot lead over second placed
Japan's Daisuke Maruyama and Kenichi Kuboya, who carded 67
each.
Jeev, who is playing his first event of the year in Japan
this year and will play two more to keep his membership, had
three birdies and three bogeys in his card.
Randhawa, who was the first Indian to win in Japan in
2003, had a similar round.
Meanwhile the other four Indians had a tough time on the
course on Thursday.
Anirban Lahiri, hoping to achieve a Panasonic double,
carded a two-over 73 to be tied 63rd. He was one-under through
front nine, but had three bogeys and no birdies on back nine.
Manav Jaini and SSP Chowrasia shot 74 each to be tied
84th, while Shiv Kapur and Sujjan Singh carded six-over 77 to
be 124th and would now need exceptionally good second rounds
to stay on for the weekend.
Meanwhile, leader Kruger, second on the Asian Tour Order
of Merit, edged closer towards his maiden Asian Tour title
when he posted a seven-under-par 64 to take the first round
lead.
Kruger has come close to winning on several occasions but
his maiden title has often eluded him. The South African knows
that he has to keep his focus before he gets rewarded with a
well deserved place in the winner's circle.
Despite playing in Japan for the first time, Kruger
displayed no signs of nerves as he marked his card with six
birdies, an eagle and a lone bogey.
Maruyama and Kuboya returned with matching 67s to take
second place alongside Korea's Bae Sang-moon and S K Ho at the
150,000,000 yen (approximately USD 1.7 million) event, jointly
sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour.
Chinese Taipei's Chan Yih-shin continued his good run by
signing for a 68 to take a share of sixth place with six
players, including Thailand's Prom Meesawat here at the Biwako
Country Club.
Chan put himself in contention for a back-to-back win,
following his victory in Macau last week. The Chinese Taipei
golfer is confident of achieving another good result as he
believes he is in good form.