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