Cork (Ireland): Jeev Milkha Singh sank four birdies on the back nine to come back with a solid three-under 68 in the first round of the Irish Open at Fota Ireland Resort on Thursday.
Jeev, who has had a rough ride this season, finishing beyond the 60th place in four of the five cuts he has made this year during which he has also missed six cuts, is looking to reverse that trend as he was placed tied ninth at the end of the first day.
Jeev had a total of six birdies, two on front nine and four on the back journey and he also had three bogeys, two on front nine and just one on back nine.
Things were however not so good for the other two Indians, Shiv Kapur, who arrived here straight from a good finish in US Open, and Gaganjeet Bhullar. Both Kapur and Bhullar carded three-over 74 each and need good seconds to make the weekend.
The event is one of the events on The Open Qualifying Series. Three players, who have not already qualified and who finish in the top ten at the Irish Open, will secure places in The Open Championship at Royal Liverpool from 17-20 July. None of the Indians in the field have qualified for the Open as yet.
Finland's Mikko Ilonen fired five birdies in his closing seven holes to establish a two shot advantage after the opening round. Ilonen, a three-time winner on The European Tour, signed for a superb seven under par round of 64, to head an international leaderboard, with the Swedish pair of Robert Karlsson and Magnus A Carlsson sharing second place alongside Germany's Marcel Siem on five under par.
Graeme McDowell, the 2010 US Open Champion, and Michael Hoey lead the Irish challenge on three-under par in a share of ninth position, with three-time Major Champion Padraig Harrington a further shot back alongside defending champion Paul Casey.
However, former World Number One Rory McIlroy faces a battle to make it to the weekend after a mixing three birdies with six bogeys in a three over par round of 74, which left him in a tie for 125th place after the first day.
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