Barham leads rain-interrupted Caltex Masters<\/p>\n
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Singapore<\/p>\n
Thunder and lightning forced tournament officials of the Caltex
\nSingapore Masters to suspend the game twice at the Laguna
\nNational Golf and Country Club on Thursday before calling it a
\nday.<\/p>\n
Benn Barham of England had a seven-under 65 on the first round
\nwith a one-under in the first nine to be the temporary leader
\npending the results of other golfers.<\/p>\n
Starting on the 10th hole, Barham made a birdie on the par-5,
\n11th only to waste the lead with a double bogey on the 13th, a
\npar 4. But he improved his play with two more birdies on the 17th
\nand 18th.<\/p>\n
The Englishman made an even better performance on his way back
\nto the clubhouse with a six-under 30.<\/p>\n
Barham started strong with a birdie at the par-4, 1st hole and
\nthree more birdies at holes 3, 4 and 5. He continued the streak
\nwith two more birdies at the par-5, 7th and par-3, 8th.<\/p>\n
World number 2 Ernie Els and the tournament's defending
\nchampion Arjun Atwal of India each were left at five under 67
\nafter finishing the 15th hole when play was suspended for the
\nsecond time.<\/p>\n
Due to the weather, the officials then decided to postpone the
\nfirst round for those who had not finished. The players will
\nfinish their first round's holes early on Friday morning before
\ncontinuing with the second round.<\/p>\n
Englishman Paul Broadhurst was one stroke behind Barham with a
\nsix-under 66. He shared the second place with Indian Jeev Milkha
\nSingh and compatriot Simon Khan.<\/p>\n
Both Broadhurst and Singh carded three-under 33 on the front
\nnine and back nine. Khan shot a two-under 34 on his way out and a
\nfour-under 32 on his way back.<\/p>\n
\"I am really pleased. I hit a poor tee-shot off the first and
\nstraight away I was on the back foot. But then I made three
\nbirdies on the spin. Strange game really,\" said Broadhurst at the
\nclubhouse.<\/p>\n
\"Overall, I am delighted. A 66 anytime is a good score.\"<\/p>\n
Broadhurst also admitted that he had putted terribly in
\nWednesday's pro-am game.<\/p>\n
Singh said it was a bit of a shock that he had shot 66.<\/p>\n
\"It is good to know that I still have it in me. I cannot
\nremember the last time I shot 66,\" he said after his round.<\/p>\n
\"I played well today. I putted good and drove it good although
\nmy driving needs to be better.\"<\/p>\n
Singh had seven birdies and a bogey at hole 10 where he had a
\nbad drive and hit a tree with his recovery shot.<\/p>\n
Four other golfers completed their round by carding five-under
\n67s. They were Andrew Marshall of England, Lu Wen-teh of Chinese
\nTaipei, Welshman David Park and Argentinean Gustavo Rojas.<\/p>\n
\"I played nicely and had quite a few chances and took a few of
\nthem. It could have been better though. Played solid really,\"
\nPark told reporters after his round.<\/p>\n
Els shot a humble one-under 35 on the front nine after a bogey
\nat the par-4, 6th hole and two birdies at 1 and 5.<\/p>\n
However, the South African was on a four-birdie charge on the
\nback nine before getting rained out after the 15th.<\/p>\n
Els said he was not disappointed about the postponement.<\/p>\n
\"No, not really. I can go home now because I'm happy with the
\nway I came back on the back nine.<\/p>\n
\"I hit a good drive down the 16th hole so we can go home happy
\nand come back tomorrow. It doesn't make any difference,\" he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Saying he had a great sleep of about nine hours, Els also said
\nhe was satisfied with the way he adapted to the course.<\/p>\n
\"Not bad although I still have to get used to the grain on the
\ngreens, but I am satisfied.<\/p>\n
\"I missed some putts but as I made some birdies ... so far,
\nso good,\" he added.<\/p>",
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