Lahiri shoots 66 to start Macao Open title defence

Macao, Oct 15: Leading Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri shot five-under 66 to be joint fourth, while Abhijit Chadda, Chiragh Kumar and Rahil Gangjee shared the eighth spot after scoring matching 67s in the opening round of the $1 million Venetian Macao Open here on Thursday.

Defending champion Lahiri, the current Asian Tour leader, produced a flawless performance that witnessed birdies on the first, second, fifth, 13th and 18th holes for a 66 -- two shots behind leader, 23-year-old Thitiphun Chuayprakong of Thailand. Young South Korean Jeunghun Wang and Bangladeshi Siddikur Rahman shot 65s to be tied second at the Macau Golf and Country Club. For 28-year-old Lahiri, it was a strong comeback after a disappointing debut at the Presidents Cup where he failed to win any of the three ties he participated for the Intertiol Team, who lost to the United States by one point.

Abhijit, Chiragh and Gangjee also got off to good starts, getting matching 67s. Gaganjeet Bhullar, Kapil Kumar and former Asian Tour champion Jyoti Randhawa shared the 25th spot on 69.

S.S.P. Chawrasia, third in the Asian Tour Order of Merit list, and Rashid Khan were tied 37th on 70, while Himmat Rai was joint 73rd with an one-over 72. IANS