Kapur tied 17th after Rd 1 in Abu Dhabi Open

Abu Dhabi: Indian golfer Shiv Kapur turned in a brilliant four-under 68 to lie tied 17 after the first

round of the Abu Dhabi Open golf tournament on the European Tour here today. The Delhi golfer sank as many as five birdies against a bogey to lie three strokes adrift off the leading trio of Ian Poulter, Richard Bland and Keith Horne, who brought home an identical round of 65 each. Jyoti Randhawa carded a sedate two-under 70 for his tied 36th place, while SSP Chowrasia turned in a level-par 72 to lie tied 72nd. However, senior pro Jeev Milkha Singh had the most disappointing day among the Indians as he carded one-over 73 to lie tied 88th. Playing his back nine first, Kapur picked up a stroke on the tenth but stumbled a bogey on the 16th before dropping consecutive birdies on 17th and 18th to take the turn at two-under. On resumption, Kapur picked up strokes on the second and eighth to finish the day on a high. PTI