Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa, the only two Indian representatives on the Japanese PGA Tour, kept the tricolour flying with identical rounds of two-under 70, to tie at 14th position after the opening round in the 120 million Yen ABC Championship 2004, being played at the par- 72, ABC Course Club in Hyohgo.
Local professional H Sasaki assumed the club-house lead with a round of six-under 66.
If Jeev Milkha Singh were to ask for a Japanese passport, he would, in all probability, be granted one. The 32-year-old Chandigarh pro, who became the first ever Indian to qualify for the second richest golf Tour world-wide, has in the past four years returned several impressive performances on that Tour, garnering just short of 90 million yen in career prize-money earnings.
Jeev has, however, failed to achieve one long cherished goal . . . a title win! He came close to one with a second place finish at the Munsungwear Open KSB Cup earlier this year.
This week, the star golfer has given himself just the start to have yet another go at bringing to reality his dream.
The Hero Honda-sponsored golfer's round started in style with a birdie on his opening hole. It was followed by two more birdies on the fifth and 12th. In tied-eighth position at that stage, Jeev let go the advantage with an unfortunate three-putt to bogey the 16th.
Jyoti Randhawa, who, unlike Jeev, has already triumphed on the Japanese PGA Tour (Suntory Open 2003), had an early hiccup in the form of a dropped shot on the second. The Gurgaon-based golfer made up with a birdie on the seventh to proceed to the tenth tee box at even-par. Almost immediately after, Jyoti was confronted with a double bogey. Just as his tenth hole debacle looked like pushing him out of contention, the former Asian PGA Tour Order of Merit winner pulled off a hat-trick of birdies on the 12th, 13th and 14th, ending his round with another for a card of 70.
Leader Sasaki's round was an error free one, with birdies on the first, second, ninth, tenth, 11th and 18th contributing to his round of 66.
Scores: (after 18 holes): 64 H Sasaki; 67 T Izawa; 68 T Taniguchi, H Tanihara, T Kamiyama, T Teshima, P Marksaeng, S Higaki; 69 H Fujita, S HIrota, N Kawahara, M Inoue, F Minoza.
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