India placed fifth

NEW DELHI, MAY 12. The Indian team was lying in the fifth position with an aggregate of 148, five strokes behind the joint leaders, Japan and Thailand, on the opening day of the Queen Sirikit Cup women's golf tournament at Taipei on Friday.

According to information received from the team management, 15- year-old Irina Brar, the India No. 1, making her Sirikit debut, shot a one-over 73 while Anjali Chopra chipped in with a 75. Shalini Malik, the third member of the team, also a Sirikit `rookie', fared poorly and ended up with an 80. The best two scores of a team are taken into account for determining the placings.

Favourite Korea was two strokes behind the joint leaders, at 145, with Malaysia on 146. A stroke ahead of India, on 147, was Australia. Host Chinese Taipei, one of the pre- tournament favourites, had a disappointing 153 to be behind India. The Philippines and Indonesia were tied on 154, New Zealand had 155 and Hong Kong 161.

The Lin Kou courses, outside Taipei, had a drenching for two days from persistent rains and the course originally earmarked, the East course, had to be changed because of the wet conditions. But even the West course with its sodden fairways has made it necessary for the players to play `preferred lies' on both fairways and in the roughs.

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Section  : Sport
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