Delhi's Rashid Khan fired a sizzling eight-under 64 to take the lead after round one of the BILT Open 2013 golf tournament being played at the Jaypee Greens Golf Resort here today.
Digvijay Singh of the DLF Golf & Country Club posted a seven-under 65 in the opening round to be placed second.
Rashid, who was runners-up at last year's BILT Open, made an ideal start to the tournament with a bogey-free 64. The three-time winner on the PGTI had a quiet front-nine as he picked up just two birdies on the second and eighth. Rashid chipped-in from the edge for birdie on the eighth.
The 22-year-old had a far more profitable back-nine. Rashid gained momentum with three straight birdies on the 10th, 11th and 12th.
He then sank a 20-footer on the 11th and landed his third shot from 150 yards out to within a foot of the flag on the 12th. Rashid's tee shot on the par-3 14th also stopped within a foot of the pin to give him another birdie. The wiry golfer collected a birdie on the par-5 15th before making his second chip-in of the day for birdie on the 16th.
Rashid, currently placed fifth on the Rolex Rankings, said: "I had a good opening round after a long time. I had two chip-ins today and landed it within a foot on two occasions. I've shot some good scores at this course in the past including a 66 earlier this year during the Avantha Masters. I'm therefore confident of performing well this week. It's now a matter of capitalising on this fabulous start."
Digvijay's round of 65 was punctuated by eight birdies and a bogey.
