Arjun Singh Chaudhri sets the pace in Rd 1 of ONGC Masters

Noida: Local favourite Arjun Singh Chaudhri cashed in on his home advantage and fired a five-under 67 to grab the opening round lead in the ONGC Masters golf

tournament here today. Playing in his home course, Arjun was off to a blazing start, while Patna`s Mohd Nawab shot four-under 68 to be placed second. Shaurya Singh, Gaurav Pratap Singh and Randhir Singh Ghotra are tied third at two-under 70 while Toran Bikram Shahi, Ranjit Singh and Shankar Das are a further stroke behind in tied sixth position. Defending champion Shamim Khan grabbed a share of 16th place with 73, while Gaurav Ghei`s two-over 74 had the veteran in tied 26th. birdie on the seventh. The 30-year-old then rallied with a superb effort on the back nine, sinking birdies on the 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th and 18th. He dropped a solitary bogey on the 10th. "I couldn`t have asked for a better start to the event. I was hitting it fairly close on the first six holes but somehow could not sink the birdie putts," Arjun said. "This round will do a lot of good to my confidence as I have struggled for most part of this season," added Arjun. Bureau Report