S Chikkrangappa carded a one-under 71 to move into the tied 9th place at the end of the first round of the Mercuries Taiwan Masters here today.
Chikka, who trains with Vijay Divecha, who also coaches Anirban Lahiri, started on back-nine and had one birdie. On the second nine, he had a bogey on the first and a birdie on eighth.
Himmat Rai was tied 14th with a card of 71, while Chiragh Kumar (74) was tied 23rd and Shubhankar Sharma (75) was tied 37th.
Rashid Khan, a two-time winner on Asian Tour, withdrew at the last minute on account of a wrist injury sustained a day earlier and also due to fever.
A score of under-par is generally considered decent on this tough course, where finding the greens is the key.
Scott Barr of Australia and Thailand's Panuphol Pittayarat took charge of the Mercuries Taiwan Masters by shooting an opening four-under 68 on Thursday.
Barr and Panuphol, who are chasing for a first Asian Tour win, leads by one shot from Singapore's Mardan Mamat and Chawalit Plaphol of Thailand at the USD 800,000 Asian Tour event which is celebrating its 30th edition.
Chinese Taipei's Chan Shih-chang, who is the highest ranked player this week, returned with a 70 to share the fourth place with talented Thai teenager Phachara Khongwatmai, Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines and Lu Wei-chih, a two-time Mercuries Taiwan Masters winner.
Starting from the 10th tee, Singapore's Mardan chipped in for eagle on the seventh hole to trail by one shot as he marked his card with five other birdies against four bogeys.
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