Tianjin (China): SSP Chowrasia turned in a flawless back-nine in windswept conditions to open with a two-under 70 that placed him tied 11th at the end of the first round at the Volvo China Open on the European Tour here on Thursday.
Chowrasia, who was 11th at the Ballantine's Open last week, was four shots behind leader Robert-Jan Derksen, last week's winner, Brett Rumford and Thai Kiradech Aphinabarnrat, all of whom shot 68 each.
The other two Indians in the field, former Volvo China Open winner Jeev Milkha Singh (72) was tied 43rd and Gaganjeet Bhullar (74) was tied 83rd. Jeev had three birdies, two of them on first and second.
He followed that with back-to-back bogeys on fourth and fifth. He had one birdie and a bogey.
Bhullar had four bogeys, but he also had two double bogeys and two other bogeys in his 74 and will need a solid second round to make the cut.
Derksen's last Tour title came eight years ago, at the Madeira Islands Open. He is without a top-10 on European Tour for last two years. Derksen shot a 66 with eight birdies with two bogeys.
Kirtadech had five birdies and one bogey, while Rumford and Jacquelin had a clean card with four birdies and no bogeys.
Among the group of players one shot back on three under par is Scotland's Paul Lawrie, who carded four birdies and a solitary bogey.
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