The Hindu : Sport / Golf : Gaurav Ghei tied sixth

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Friday, May 25, 2007
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Gaurav Ghei tied sixth

Seoul: Gaurav Ghei returned a flawless five-under 67 to take a share of the sixth place after the opening round of the $600,000 SK Telecom Open golf championship at the BA Vista Country Club here on Thursday.

The Delhi professional, who has already won one title and came within a whisker of another, fired five birdies — one on front nine and four on the back.

Among other Indians in the fray, Amandeep Johl (70) was lying tied 25th, while Rahil Gangjee and fellow Kolkatan S.S.P. Chowrasia returned one-under 71 each for the tied 44th spot.

In contrast, Digvijay Singh shot a horrendous six-over 78 with one triple and one quadruple bogey, to be tied 143rd.

Ghei, who won the Pine Valley Beijing Open last month and came within one shot of a place in play-off at Macau Open last week, was four shots behind Korean Bae Sang Moon, whose eight-under 64 gave him a one-shot lead.

Kim Hyung Tae and Jun Tae Hyun were tied second at 65 each.

``The conditions were not too tough and I'll keep up my game as usual. The greens are quite tricky but overall, I am enjoying the set-up here,'' Ghei said.

Ghei's first birdie of the day came on the fourth hole. Making the turn one-under, he struck back-to-back birdies on the 10th and 11th before gaining two more shots on the 15th and 16th for a flawless round.

Korea's Bae Sang-moon set the pace in the opening round after an eight-under-par 64. The 20-year-old Korean took advantage of the calm conditions in the morning with a one stroke lead over compatriot Kim Hyung-tae and Jun Tae-hyun, who were both at tied second place.

Thai newcomer Panuwat Muenlek posted a steady 66 for the joint fourth spot alongside Korea's Kang Sung-hoon.

Ghei, Australia's Unho Park and Yasin Ali of England were all three strokes behind the leader with Korea's Choi Sang-ho, Kim Wi-joong, Jung Ji-ho and Joo Hewng-chul.

Leading first round scores: 64 Bae Sang-moon (Kor); 65 Jun Tae-hyun (Kor), Kim Hyung-tae (Kor); 66 Panuwat Muenlek (Tha), Kang Sung-hoon (Kor); 67 Joo Hewng-chul, Unho Park (Aus), Yasin Ali (Eng), Jung Ji-ho (Kor), Kim Wi-joong (Kor), Choi Sang-ho (Kor), Gaurav Ghei (Ind). — PTI

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