Singh races into lead at Volvo Masters

KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): The opening day's play in the US$200,000 Volvo Masters of Malaysia saw India's Jeev Milkha Singh literally race into the lead with a four-under-par 68.

The Volvo Masters of Malaysia is the 17th leg on the 1997 Omega Tour and is being played at its traditional home at Kelab Golf Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah.

The 25-year-old Singh leads by one from American Christian Pena. A further stroke back is home hope Periasamy Gunasegaran, the winner in 1994, South African Craig Kamps, Scotland's Simon Yates, Taiwan's Hsu Mong-nan, Joselito Rempojo of the Philippines and Ecuador's Rafel Ponce.

On his last hole, the 402-yard par-four ninth, Singh cut the figure of his famous father, a former Olympic runner known as the 'Flying Sikh', after sprinting up the fairway to beat intensifying heavy rain.

The siren to stop play temporarily due to the rain went just as Singh was about to play the second on the ninth. Rather than wait for the rain to stop Singh chose to complete the hole.

He hit his approach shot short, ran up to the green, chipped his ball stone dead and dashed off to the shelter of the clubhouse with his playing partners in tow.

The Indian player had started his round on the back nine and after birdieing his first hole then made eight consecutive pars to make the turn in one-under-par 35.

He then charged to the top of the leaderboard with three birdies in a row, starting from the first. It was the perfect start for Singh who will move into the number one position on the Omega Order of Merit if he wins this week.

"I am happy with that round," said Singh. "I came here to make a challenge for the Omega Order of Merit so that is the perfect start. I am going to the final qualifying for the European Tour on Sunday night but rather than take a break this week I wanted to come and try hard for the Merit title."

China's Zhang Lian-wei is nicely placed after a level-par 72. Zhang, winner of the last two Volvo Masters of Malaysia, finished level despite missing two par putts from two feet -- both of which lipped out.

"I still have not recovered from all the traveling," said Zhang, who was at the Volvo Masters in Spain two weeks ago.

"Foreign food does not really agree with me. My stomach still feels uncomfortable," Zhang added.

Over the next few days, however, any scent of victory will no doubt see his senses return to normal.