India's ace Golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar is known to display formidable grit and stamina in tough matches. And on the first day of the Maybank Championship, he ensured that he doesn't disappoint his fans. 

 

 

He took advantage of his sharp shooting game when he returned with an opening four-under-par 68 in the third edition of the Maybank Championship on Thursday. 

 

 

 

 

                                                

                                                   Bhullar hit 10 out of 14 fairways and had a total of 33 putts

 

 

Bhullar, an eight-time Asian Tour champion, hit 18 greens in regulation in a round of six birdies against two bogeys. He trails the clubhouse leader Chris Paisley by three shots in the US$3 million event which was suspended due to fading light at 7.30am.

 

 

The 29-year-old Indian, who played in the morning, currently shares 10th place and was disappointed not to return with a lower score after struggling on the greens where he totaled 33 putts.

 

 

Bhullar believes the winner at this week’s Maybank Championship will have a huge advantage in the Habitat for Humanity Standings race where he is currently in 10th position thanks to a tied-10th result in Myanmar last week.

 

 

England’s Chris Paisley seized the clubhouse lead at the weather-disrupted US$3 million Maybank Championship on Thursday as former Asian Tour number ones David Lipsky and Arjun Atwal trail closely behind.

 

 

 

                  The Englishman carded seven birdies to hold a one-shot advantage over countryman David Horsey

 

 

The 31-year-old Paisley fired a bogey-free seven-under-par 65 at the Saujana Golf and Country Club to continue his fine form where he won and finished fifth twice in his last three European Tour events in 2018.

 

 

The Englishman carded seven birdies to hold a one-shot advantage over countryman David Horsey while Frenchman Mike Lorenzo-Vera was six-under with two holes to play before fading light forced officials to stop play at 7.30 pm local time. The event was suspended earlier by 1 hour and 50 minutes due to lightning.

 

 

India’s Arjun Atwal, who is aiming for a third victory in Malaysia, last year’s runner-up and 2014 Asian Tour number one David Lipsky of the United States, Andrew Johnston of England, Korea’s rising star Soomin Lee and Frenchmen Romain Wattel and Alexander Levy were a further two shots back of Paisley.