Fresh from his SAIL-SBI Open triumph last week, in-form Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri took the joint first-round lead in the Open Championship International Final Qualifying (Asia) here today.
Lahiri, winner of the SAIL-SBI Open on the Asian Tour in India, fired a four-under 68 and shared the lead with Jonathan Moore of the United States at the Amata Spring Country Club.
Himmat Rai (73) was the next best Indian in tied 27th, while Gaganjeet Bhullar (77) was way behind in tied 52nd.
Chiragh Kumar was further down with 79 in 63rd place.
The Open Championship will be played at the Royal Lytham and St Annes from July 19 to 22, 2012.
Lahiri, who had eight birdies against two bogeys and one double bogey, may well have been the sole leader as he was six-under through the 15th hole.
He dropped a bogey on the 16th and then had a costly double bogey on the signature 17th hole where players must take a boat ride to the green after their tee shot. But he kept his cool and recovered somewhat with a birdie on the last hole.
“I’m really happy with the way I played. I drove the ball really well. I’m happy with the way I’m swinging it. All and all it was a good round. I would have loved to finish better,” said Lahiri, who opened the day with two birdies on first and second holes.
