Randhawa sizzles, tied 3rd at Singapore Masters after Rd 1

Singapore, Mar 8 (UNI) A last hole bogey robbed Jyoti Randhawa of a place on the top but the seasoned Indian, playing his best golf in weeks, carded a sizzling seven-under 65 for tied third spot after the opening round of the 1.1 million-dollar Clariden Leu Singapore Masters here today.

Randhawa exploited to the hilt near-perfect scoring conditions at the par-72 Laguana National Golf and Country Club firing in seven birdies and a superb eagle on par four second hole as against two bogeys to end the day just one stroke off the pace.

Aussie Marcus Fraser and Wen-chong Liang of China lead the pack after returning an eight-under 64 Round One.

Among other Indians in the fray, Gaurav Ghei returned a four-under 68 card to grab tied 15th spot while Shiv Kapur and Jeev Milkha Singh played an identical three-under 69 round to take tied 33rd spot with 23 others.

But the day belonged to Randhawa who, after many indifferent performances this season, finally looked as if getting into his groove.

And what better than an eagle to regain the touch? Randhawa opened his scoring by gaining two stroked on the second hole. A bogey on the next was just a blip as he went on to hit a hat-trick of birdies from the fourth to sixth.

Back nine was equally good and Randhawa gained four strokes in five holes from the 12th to 16th before making another bogey on the last.

Meanwhile, talented SSP Chowrasia (72) and Amandeep Johl (74) had a bad day in office and will have an uphill task at hand tomorrow if they are to advance for the weekend's play in the tournament.

UNI