Indian golfers shine in Ericsson Masters<\/p>\n
By Bobby Allen Wilson<\/p>\n
BINTAN, Riau (JP): India's Arjun Atwal has a reputation for
\nbeing a fast starter but his opening round at the US$500,000
\nAsia-Pacific Ericsson Masters yesterday surpassed any of his
\nprevious performances.<\/p>\n
Atwal fired a seven-under-par 65 over the Jack Nicklaus-
\ndesigned Championship Course at Bintan Lagoon Golf and Beach
\nResort, after a birdie, eagle, birdie start.<\/p>\n
In what is a joint-sanctioned event between the Asian PGA's
\nOmega Tour and the PGA Tour Australasia, Atwal leads by one
\nstroke from in-form compatriot Jeev Milkha Singh.<\/p>\n
"Before I started my round I said to myself that I would not
\nlet any negative thoughts enter my mind. I kept thinking positive
\nall the way round," said Atwal.<\/p>\n
"Even after that brilliant start I managed to stay focused and
\nnot get negative. After such a good start most people start
\ngetting tense and try to defend their score. I just tried to keep
\nthe run going and not get nervous," added Atwal.<\/p>\n
Atwal playing the 577-yard par-five 11th, which was his second
\nhole of the day, made three after hitting his three wood second
\nshot to 20 feet.<\/p>\n
"I hit the ball solidly today which I think was the result of
\nbeing confident on the course," said Atwal, who calls Calcutta,
\nIndia and New York home.<\/p>\n
The 24-year-old Indian dropped his only shot of the day on the
\npar four sixth but then responded with birdies on the next two
\nholes. His two on the 202-yard par-three eighth resulted from a
\nmonster 50 foot putt.<\/p>\n
Big event<\/p>\n
This year Atwal has twice led on the first day of a big
\ntournament. He was first round leader at the Johnnie Walker
\nClassic in Australia and the London Myanmar Open. He also made
\nthe headlines in 1996 for being one of the frontrunners in the
\nBuick Classic on the U.S. PGA Tour.<\/p>\n
"The time cannot be far off when I can string four good rounds
\ntogether," added Arjun.
\n Singh, a three time winner on the Omega Tour, failed to drop a
\nshot in his round and made six birdies.<\/p>\n
"I struck the ball very well today. My confidence is very
\nhigh," said Singh. "I have been knocking on the door over the
\npast few weeks so I am due a win."<\/p>\n
The 25-year-old Indian was third in the SingTel Ericsson
\nSingapore Open in August and was also third last week in Korea in
\nthe Shinhan Donghae Open.<\/p>\n
Australian Jeff Senior lies in third place after firing a
\nfive-under-par 67 while Mexico's Carlos Espinosa and South
\nAfrican Nico Van Rensburg are a stroke further behind.<\/p>\n
Rensburg marked his return to the Omega Tour, after a month's
\nabsence following the death of his mother, with a hole-in-one on
\nthe par three 12th. The South African demonstrated his big
\nhitting capability by holing out with an eight iron from 175
\nyards.<\/p>\n
Two groups failed to finish their rounds due to darkness
\nclosing in. Their scores were not threatening the top of the
\nleaderboard.<\/p>\n
Selected results
\n 65 - Arjun Atwal (Ind)
\n 66 - Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind)
\n 67 - Jeff Senior (Aus)
\n 68 - Nico Van Rensburg (Rsa), Carlos Espinosa (Mex)
\n 69 - Marciano Pucay (Phi), Peter Fowler (Aus), Robin Byrd (USA)
\nAaron Meeks (USA)
\n 70 - Chris Gray (Aus), M. Murugiah (Sin), Mike Cunning (USA),
\nEric Rustand (USA), Danny Zarate (Phi) Chawalit Plaphol
\n(Tha), Kim Tae-hoon (Kor), Andrew Bonhomme (Aus), Thaworn
\nWiratchant (Tha), Edward Fryatt (Gbr), John Senden (Aus),
\n 71 - Charlie Wi (Kor), Jim Rutledge (Can), Derek Fung (Hkg),
\nPaul Devenport (Nzl), Craig Kamps (Rsa), David McKenzie
\n(Aus), Anthony Gilligan (Aus), David Bransdon (Aus),
\nKasiadi (Ina), Robert Huxtable (USA)<\/p>",
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