Date:12/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/12/stories/2006051200281900.htm

Sport - Golf

Jeev starts with one-under 71

Gifu (Japan): A double bogey on the final hole took some of the sheen off a splendid first round by Jeev Milkha Singh, who opened at the Yen 110 million Japan PGA Championships with a one-under 71.

The Indian ace was in tied 33rd spot at the end of the first day at the Tanigumi Country Club. This is his second appearance in Japan this year.

Jeev, who won the Volvo China Open on Asian and European Tour, was five behind the leader, 28-year-old rookie Norihiko Nakata, who finished with an eagle and five birdies on the back nine that helped him to a card of 66 after being one over for the front nine.

Jeev looked set for a good finish at three-under when he courted a double bogey on the 18th. That put him back to one-under 71 for the day that needed 28 putts. He had four birdies, including three on the back nine. He birdied 10th, 11th and 17th, but dropped a shot on 13th.

Second place was shared by five players, all shooting four-under 68 each. Local players Toshihiro Aizawa, Yasuharu Imano, Tomohiro Kondo and Toru Taniguchi, shared it with Chinese Taipei's Lin Keng-chi.

The winner of this event gets a spot on the PGA Championships of America, one of the four Majors. — PTI