The wet and windy conditions at the Cengkareng Golf Club could not dampen Jeev Milkha Singh's game and the Indian got off to an impressive start with a five-under 65 that had him tied third after the first round of the Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesia Open on Thursday.
Australia's David Bransdon and Joost Luiten of The Netherlands carded identical rounds of 64 to share the lead as rain did not allow 42 other players to complete their rounds.
They will return early on Friday to complete the first round in the $ 1.2 million co-sanctioned event between the Asian Tour and European Tour.
Also read: Jeev to cut down on assignments
Joining Jeev at tied third were Liang Wen-Chong, Prayad Marksaeng, Juan Abbate, Kyron Sullivan, Philip Golding and Felipe Aguilar.
Determined to erase the poor memories of last week's Indian Masters in Delhi where he failed to make the cut, Jeev ignited his title charge with a solid ball-striking display, closing his round with a birdie on the final hole.
Playing the back nine first, Jeev parred the 10th before unleashing a birdie hat-trick to take the turn at three-under.
On the way back, he dropped a shot on the third hole but made amends with birdies on the sixth, seventh and ninth to finish just one shot adrift of the joint leaders.
"I'm not really thinking about it (winning). I'm just going to go through my process, follow my routine and see what comes my way," said the Indian after his round.
"I have started very well which is encouraging but we will have to wait and see what happens over the next three days," Jeev added.
Among Jeev's compatriots, Arjun Atwal looked in good nick too and the Orlando-based Indian was four-under with one more hole to go when rain left him stranded.
Similarly, Gaurav Ghei ended the day at three-under with six more holes to go.
India's top golfer Jyoti Randhawa mixed five birdies and three bogeys to finish with a card of 68, one shot ahead of Delhi lad Shiv Kapur.
Playing his back nine first, Kolkata pro Rahil Gangjee was even-par after three holes when he had to run for cover.
It, however, proved an erratic outing for Amandeep Johl (75) who was done in by a treble of double bogeys.
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