Ghei-Kapur off-colour, India joint 5th in World Cup qualifier

Kuala Lumpur, Sep 13 (UNI) The Indian duo of Gaurav Ghei and Shiv Kapur could not begin with a bang and finished joint fifth after returning a card of three-under 68 in the first round of the World Cup Qualifier here today.

The top-two teams, after four rounds, will qualify for the World Golf Championships-World Cup in Barbados in December.

Hong Kong's David Freeman and James Stewart combined effectively to shoot eight-under 63 for the first round lead. They recovered from a rather sluggish start in the fourball better ball format at Seri Selangor Golf Club, sinking nine birdies against a lone bogey in their last 12 holes.

They lead by a stroke from the Philippines, while Malaysia's Iain Steel and Danny Chia and Singaporean duo of Lam Chih Bing and Mardan Mamat sharing third place on 65.

Seasoned Ghei took the blame for the team's sluggish start and said, ''It was a bad day for me. I only made one birdie on 11. It was an off day but there is a long way to go.'' Kapur, last year's Rookie of the Year and presently sixth on the UBS Order of Merit, was disappointed with his show as well and he blamed it on fatigue.

''We both didn't play well. I made some lazy swings, maybe it was just a bit of fatigue setting in as it's my fourth week in a row playing.

''We got off to a good start by being four under through six holes but we couldn't keep it going. Hopefully, we can play better in the foursomes which I think we both will be comfortable with,'' he said.

The second round will use the foursomes (alternate) shot format.

First round scores (fourball better ball) 63: Hong Kong (James Stewart/David Freeman) 64: Philippines (Gerald Rosales/Juvic Pagunsan) 65: Singapore (Mardan Mamat/Lam Chih Bing), Malaysia (Danny Chia/Iain Steel) 68: Italy (Emanuele Canonica/Francesco Molinari), India (Shiv Kapur/Gaurav Ghei) 69: Ghana (Emos Korblah/Victo Brave Mensah), Pakistan (Muhammed Munir/Imdad Hussain), Finland (Mikko Maneros/ Juha Pekka Peltomaki) 70: Chinese Taipei (Lu Wei-lan/Lu Wei-chih), Switzerland (Martin Rominger/Nicolas Sulzes) 72: Myanmar (Zaw Moe/Soe Kyaw Naing) 73: Holland (Ruben Wechgelaer/John Bleys) 75: Mauritius (Billy Narraina/Vishnoo Seeneevassen) UNI XC AY PDS DS1455