Chowrasia lying tied seventh in Hong Kong

HONG KONG - A last-hole bogey left a blot on an otherwise unblemished five-under 65 from S.S.P. Chowrasia in the first round of the UBS Hong Kong Open Thursday.

Chowrasia’s 65 left him in tied seventh place, three shots adrift of the unheralded Udorn Duangdecha of Thailand who surprised the tournaments marquee names to take the first round lead. The Thai returned a card of eight-under-par 62 at the par-70 Fanling Layout.

Robert-Jan Derksen of the Netherlands who had earlier taken the morning lead heads into the second round in second place on 63 while Thailands Thongchai Jaidee together with defending champion Lin Wen-tang, Englands David Dixon and Frances Gregory Bourdy are a further shot back in tied-third on 64.

For the 10 Indians in the field, it was a mixed day. Jyoti Randhawa, hoping to round off the season on a high that would give him an outside chance of making the Race to Dubai next week, opened with four-under 66 that placed him tied 16th alongside his young fellow Indian, Gaganjeet Bhullar, who closed birdie-birdie for his 66.

Rahil Gangjee, who came through the qualifiers and knows he could well make his card for 2010 with a good finish this week, shot a three-under 67 in tied 29th place, while Shiv Kapur, whose card in Europe is secure, shot two-under 68 for tied 40th place.

Gaurav Ghei, in 64th place on Money List, was tied 65th with a 69. Anirban Lahiri and Jeev Milkha SIngh were tied 94th at 71, while C. Muniyappa shot a 73 to be tied 118th and Digvijay Singh with a 76 was in danger of missing the cut in tied 136th place.

Chowrasia, who has struggled this season in Europe, opened birdie-birdie was four-under through six holes. He added two more birdies on his second nine and was six-under on the last hole, the ninth on the course. He bogeyed the hole to finish with a 65. “That was a big disappointment as I was playing well. Still I hope I can hold this start,” said Chowrasia, winner of the Indian Masters in 2008.

The Thai Open winner, Randhawa had four birdies on the front nine and one on the back nine, but he also dropped a bogey on sixth. Bhullar, winner of Indonesia President Invitational, opened with a bogey and was only even par after 11 holes. He picked up from there with birdies on 12th and 13th and two more on 17th and 18th for his 66.

Udorn earned his right to play in this event after securing one of the three spots at the international qualifiers last month. He went up the ladder with 10 birdies against two bogeys.

Derksen, who is seeking his first win since 2005 opened his campaign with birdies on the third, fourth and eighth.

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy posted a 66 to take a share of 16th place together with Asian Tour honorary member, Yang Yong-eun and Chinas Liang Wen-chong.