Shiv Kapur tied 18th after first round in Asian Open

Shanghai, Apr 20 (UNI) Shiv Kapur's rollercoaster round of one-under 71 turned out to be the best by an Indian as Jeev Milkha Singh, winner of last week's China Open, returned a level-par show in the opening round of the BMW Asian Open here today.

A 10th tee starter, Shiv had a rather sedate journey in his first nine dropping just one shot, but his home-bound journey hit a snag and marred his better opening round prospects and he had to be happy sharing the 18th place.

He stumbled on successive bogeys on third and fourth and dropped another on eighth but managed to offset the loss, by firing birdies on the second, seventh and his final hole to finish the day one-under.

Jeev Milkha Singh, too began well with a couple of birdies in his first nine but on his way back, he had two bogeys in a row for his even-par show that saw him finish tied 35th.

Among others, Amandeep Johl (75) finished tied 91st, followed by Gaurav Ghei (76), Rahil Gangjee (77) and Amandeep Johl (78).

Meanwhile, in perfect early conditions, Swede sensation Henrik Stenson shot a five-under 67 for a one-stroke lead over Frenchman Jean Van de Velde and Briton Stephen Gallacher and his card showed six birdies and a single bogey.

Leading first round scores: 67: Henrik Stenson 68: Stephen Gallacher, Jean Van De Velde 69: Charlie Wi, Thomas Bjorn, Colin Montgomerie, Marcus Fraser, Frankie Minoza 70: Francois Delamontagne, Alessandro Tadini, Ted Oh, Liang Wen-chong, Scott Drummond, Paul Lawrie, Boonchu Ruangkit, Chapchai Nirat 71: Garry Houston, Jose-Filipe Lima, Gonzalo Fdez-Castano, Andrew Buckle, Adam Groom, Alex Cejka, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Richard Bland, Jarrod Lyle, Shiv Kapur, Johan Edfors, Bryan Saltus, Andrew Marshall, David Dixon, Danny Chia, Jason Knutzon, Jean-Francois Lucquin UNI XC AY DH GC1658