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October 8th 2009, New Delhi: Australian Adam Blyth, eager to win his first title on the Asian Tour, made a fine start in the US$1.25 million Hero Honda Indian Open after firing a first round eight-under-par 64.

The highly regarded 27 year old, who finished third in this event last year, fired eight birdies during a flawless round at DLF Golf and Country Club.

Korean Lee Sung is in outright second after firing a 65, while India’s C. Muniyappa and Jason King from Australia both shot 66.

Sweden’s Daniel Chopra, South African Keith Horne and Unho Park from Australia all carded 67s.

“It is my best round on the Asian Tour so I am delighted. I have been hitting the ball really well this year but the results have not been there. I played great in the Dunhill last week but it was just not really happening in terms of scoring. I knew if I kept patient it would come,” said Blyth, who turned professional in 2004 and started playing on the Asian Tour the following year.

He began his round on the back nine and birdied his first three holes. More birdies followed as he made the turn in five-under-par 31. His birdie run appeared to have dried up before he birdied six, eight and nine.

His score was one shot away from the course record set by Filipino Rodrigo Cuello in the 2000 Hero Honda Masters.

“I hit some nice shots today but it was all about the putting. I made all those crucial ones you have to hole from about 10 feet,” added Blyth, whose father Stephen is caddying for him.

In February, the Australian led the Malaysian Open with one round to go before eventually finishing joint 10th to add another high finish to his impressive record.

In 2007, he challenged Indian Gaurav Ghei for the Pine Valley Beijing Open title before finishing second, his best result on Tour.

Lee, the deaf golfer who recorded a popular victory in the 2007 Bangkok Airways Open, also returned a bogey free round and recorded a brilliant back nine of six-under-par 30.

US PGA Tour star Chopra, one of the pre-tournament favourites was happy with his opening salvo especially as he had to overcome losing his regular caddie, Scott Sajtinac, due to food poisoning.

He started on the back nine and made birdies on 12 and 15 but three putted the par-three 16th where his caddie was forced to head back to the clubhouse.

He made seven birdies and two bogeys in total to lie well placed in his bid to win India’s national Open for the first time. Chopra was born in Sweden but moved to Delhi when he was seven.

Indian Arjun Atwal, who is fighting his way back from injury, came in with a 75 while New Zealand’s Michael Campbell, the 2005 US Open champion, shot a 76.