Golfer Lahiri leads Venetican Macau Open

Indian star golfer Anirban Lahiri fired a 10-under 61 to lead after the first round of the Venetican Macau Open at the par-71 Macau Golf and Country Club here Thursday.

Lahiri, currently second on the Asian Tour's Order of Merit, sank a 15-foot eagle putt on the par-five 18th hole and scored eight birdies (second, third, sixth, seventh, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th) in a bogey-free round to take one shot lead ahead of defending champion Scott Hend of Australia.

"It's the Diwali day back home and it's nice to have some fireworks on the course, I really played solid all day and it was nice to get such fantastic weather and putt well. I think I did really well inside of 15 feet ... this is the best I have putted for a while," the 27-year-old said.

"Sometimes my putting stroke doesn't flow as well as it needs to and my good friend S. Chikka, who is also playing here, spotted a little thing that really helped me. I felt really comfortable on the greens. I'm really happy."

Hend scored an eagle on 13th hole and accumulated eighth birdies against lone bogey on eighth to lead by two and three shots ahead of compatriot golfers Sam Brazel and Adam Groom and Martin Rominger.

Other Indians in the fray, Jyoti Randhawa and S.S.P. Chowrasia came up with five-under each to share sixth position with Thailand's Jazz Janewattananond and Australian Kalem Richardson.

Chiragh Kumar (joint 19th), Angad Cheema, M. Dharma, Arjun Atwal, Himmat Rai (all (joint 34th), Jeev Milkha Singh (joint 60th), Shiv Kapur, Rahil Gangjee (both joint 93rd), Sujjan Singh (106th) and S. Chikka (120th) would like to better their performances in the second round,

Star attractions Ernie Els of South Africa and three-time Asian Tour number one Thongchai Jaidee, who both played alongside Hend, settled for 70s to trail the leader by nine shots while Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez struggled on the greens for a 72, taking 33 putts.

Leaderboard

61: Anirban Lahiri (IND).

62: Scott Hend (AUS).

64: Sam Brazel (AUS).

65: Adam Groom (AUS), Martin Rominger (SUI).

66: Kalem Richardson (AUS), Jyoti Randhawa (IND), Jazz Janewattananond (THA), S.S.P Chowrasia (IND).

67: Thaworn Wiratchant (THA), Simon Griffiths (ENG).

68: Marcus Both (AUS), Prom Meesawat (THA), Sam Cyr (USA), Chiang Chen-chih (TPE), Alex Kang (USA), Pawin Ingkhapradit (THA), Jay Bayron (PHI).

69: Jaakko Makitalo (FIN), Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA), Nicholas Fung (MAS), Charlie Wi (KOR), Chiragh Kumar (IND), Lam Chih Bing (SIN), Chris Rodgers (ENG), Daniel CHOPRA (SWE), Pariya Junhasavasdikul (THA), Zhang Lian-wei (CHN), Mithun Perera (SRI), Adilson Da Silva (BRA), Berry Henson (USA), Chinnarat Phadungsil (THA), Shaaban Hussin (MAS).

70: Angad Cheema (IND), Angelo Que (PHI), Chapchai Nirat (THA), Arie Irawan (MAS), Chan Kim (USA), Chan Shih-chang.