{image-jeev milkha singh_13032008.jpg news.oneindia.in}New Delhi, Mar 13: Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa carded identical scores of 68 to make a brilliant start to their campaign at the Ballantine's Championship in Jeju Island, South Korea today.

Jeev and Jyoti are tied second along with nine other professionals after the first round. The Indian duo trails the leader, Finland's Mikko Ilonen by one stroke. Jeev made a tremendous start with birdies on the 10th, 11th and 13th holes. He then dropped a double bogey on the 18th and made the turn at one under. Jeev started his front nine with three consecutive birdies on the first, second and third.

His only blemish on the front nine was the bogey on the seventh.

The former Asia number one picked up another stroke when he closed with a birdie on the ninth.

Randhawa, however, did not have a great start as he dropped a double bogey on the second. But he then fought back with birdies on the fourth, eighth, 10th, 15th, 16th and 18th.

Meanwhile, Gaurav Ghei fired an even par 72 to be placed tied 62nd.

While Ghei made seven pars and birdied the seventh and ninth to produce a solid front nine, he dropped back on the back nine with bogeys on the 14th and 15th.

Shiv Kapur carded two over 74 which placed him at tied 98th.

Kapur sank birdies on the ninth and 13th and bogeyed the seventh, 10th, 15th and 16th.

UNI