Ajeetesh, Aman and Viraj shoot 69 each in Jakarta

The Indian trio Ajeteesh Sandhu, Aman Raj and Viraj Madappa carded three-under 69 each to be at tied-16th at the end of the first day of the BNI Indonesian Masters golf tournament here on Thursday.

They were the best placed Indians and were four shots behind the leader, local amateur Naraajie Emerald Ramadhanputra, South African Keith Horne and Steven Jeffress of Australia, who shot 65 each.

All the three Indians had four birdies against one bogey.

Shiv Kapur (70) was T-32, Jyoti Randhawa (71) at T-53 while SSP Chawrasia, Arjun Atwal and Veer Ahlawat, with 72 each, were T-67.

S Chikkarangappa and Rashid Khan, with 73 each, Khalin Joshi (74), and Aadil Bedi (78) were further down.

The 19-year-old Naraajie got off to a flying start with five straight birdies from the 11th hole before adding three more birdies against a bogey on his way home at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.

Jeffress, who played without a practice round this week, rediscovered the spark in his game as he closed with three straight birdies from the seventh to seize a share of the lead in the USD 750,000 Asian Tour event, which forms the third leg of the 2019/20 Panasonic Swing.

Veteran Horne launched his relentless bid for a breakthrough title by firing nine birdies against two bogeys in the Indonesian showpiece.

Newly crowned Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand battled to a 68 to tie in eighth place while countryman and defending champion Poom Saksansin posted a 73 to sit in tied-85th place.

The BNI Indonesian Masters will award the winner with no less than 20 Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points, ensuring more players benefit from the points breakdown.