Blyth leads in Hero Honda Indian Open
GURGOAN, Oct 8 (UNI): Australian Adam Blyth fired an eight-under-par 64 to emerge the first round leader in the 1.25 million dollar Hero Honda Indian Open golf here today.
The best Indian performance came from Bangalore based C Muniyappa who shot six under 66 to be at joint third spot.
The highly rated 27-year-old Australian, who finished third in this event last year, fired eight birdies during a flawless round at DLF Golf and Country Club.
Korean Lee Sung was at second place after firing a 65, while Muniyappa and Jason King from Australia both shot 66.
Sweden's Daniel Chopra, South African Keith Horne and Unho Park from Australia all carded 67s.
Another title contender Gaganjeet Bhullar shot one over par-73 while former champion Arjun Atwal, who is fighting his way back from injury, came in with a poor three over 75 while much talked about New Zealand's Michael Campbell, the 2005 US Open champion, shot a 76.
Blyth began his round on the back nine and birdied his first three holes.
More birdies followed as he made the turn in five-under-par 31.
His birdie run appeared to have dried up before he birdied six, eight and nine.
His score was one shot away from the course record set by Filipino Rodrigo Cuello in the 2000 Hero Honda Masters.
In February, the Australian led the Malaysian Open with one round to go before eventually finishing joint 10th to add another high finish to his impressive record.
In 2007, he challenged Indian Gaurav Ghei for the Pine Valley Beijing Open title before finishing second, his best result on Tour, Lee, a deaf golfer who recorded a popular victory in the 2007 Bangkok Airways Open, also returned a bogey free round and recorded a brilliant back nine of six-under-par 30.
US PGA Tour star Chopra, one of the pre-tournament favourites was happy with his opening salvo especially as he had to overcome losing his regular caddie, Scott Sajtinac, due to food poisoning.
He started on the back nine and made birdies on 12 and 15 but three putted the par-three 16th where his caddie was forced to head back to the clubhouse.
"On 16 my caddie fell sick so there was a bit of a distraction.
I hit my first putt too hard.
Delhi claimed another victim I think.
I think it was the sandwich at Delhi Golf Club last night.
I ate it as well but I guess my system is more used to it," said Chopra, who sort the services of a local caddie.
He made seven birdies and two bogeys in total to lie well placed in his bid to win India's national Open for the first time.
Leading first round scores:(Indian unless stated): 64: Adam Blyth (Aus), 65: Lee Sung (Kor), 66: C Muniyappa, Jason King (Aus), 67: Unho Park (Aus), Daniel Chopra (Swe) and Keith Horne (RSA), 68: Digvijay Singh, Harinder Gupta, Arjun Singh and Kwanchai Tanin (Tha), 69: Raju Ali, Rahul Ganapathy, Arshdeep Tiwana (a), Pijit Petchkasem (Tha), Panuwat Muenlek (Tha), Antonio Lascuna (PHI), Marcus Both (Aus), Scott Hend (Aus), Darren Beck (Aus) and James Kamte (RSA), 70: Stephen Leaney (Aus), 73: Gaganjeet Bhullar, 75: Arjun Atwal, 76: Michael Campbell (NZL).