India’s Golf veteran Arjun Atwal, who was placed at T6, had the best score among the Indian Golfers after tropical storms halted play at the SMBC Singapore Open. Atwal, who was victorious in Singapore way back in 2002, came back in the morning to complete the first round.

 

 

 

 

                                        Arjun Atwal won the Singapore Open in 2002

 

 

While Ajeetesh Sandhu shot 70, Shiv Kapur shot 71 in Round 1. Rahil Gangjee, Om Prakash Chouhan and Khalin Joshi had a rough day and shot 5-over 76s in the first round of the season-opening event of the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation.

 

 

Jeev Milkha Singh was 5-over through 11 holes.  S Chikkarangappa had played six holes and was even-par, while Viraj Madappa was 1-over through eight.

 

 

Despite having to endure several rain delays in his opening round, Thailand’s Poom Saksansin closed with three straight birdies to grab a share of lead on 65.

 

 

 

 

Poom, who won the 2018 Asian Tour season finale in Indonesia last month, took advantage of the calm conditions and his solid iron-play when he returned to complete his opening round on Friday morning at the Sentosa Golf Club's Serapong course.

 

 

The 25-year-old Thai fired five birdies in his closing seven holes to grab a one-shot advantage alongside reigning Abema TV Tour Order of Merit winner Taihei Sato of Japan at the event, which is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO).

 

 

 

                                                                  Poom Saksansin of Thailand

 

 

The first round of the SMBC Singapore Open resumed at 7.30am local time on Friday but was suspended for the third time this week at 8.45am due to lightning threats. The play was resumed later at 10.45am. Round 2 has commenced at 11.30am.

 

 

Chinese Taipei's Chan Shih-chang returned to sign for a 66 to share third place with compatriot Hung Chien-yao and Shotaro Wada of Japan while Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines, Phachara Khongwatmai of Thailand and EurAsia Cup Team Asia captain Arjun Atwal of India were among those bunched in sixth place following matching 67s.

 

(With inputs from Asian Tour and PTI)