Defending champion SSP Chawrasia and talented Chirag Kumar shot one-under during an incomplete first round on a weather-hit opening day of the USD 1,750,000 Hero Indian Open.
Chawrasia and Chirag has completed 15 and 11 holes respectively.
On a day when the redesigned DLF course tested the skills of golfers around the globe, England's David Horsey was at the top of the leaderboard with an impressive five-under through 15 holes. Italy's Matteo Manassero (68) set the clubhouse target early in the day. One shot behind him was England's Eddie Pepperell.
With rain and lightening stopping play for about 90 minutes at the Gary Player designed course here, as many as 66 golfers, including Chawrasia and Chirag, were left stranded and now will be completing their rounds tomorrow.
Out of 78 golfers who could finish the round today, young Shubhankar Sharma, who just recovered from a bout of illness, fired a couple of birdies in the last two holes to be among the best-placed Indians along with Rahil Ganjee and amateur Rigel Fernandes.
Ajeetesh Sandhu was also par for the day after 11 holes with two birdies and as many bogeys.
Chawrasia shunned extravagance to par the first 11 holes before a couple of birdies at the 12th and 15th holes sandwiched by a bogey at 14th put him at one-under.
Chirag, on the other hand, made a birdie-birdie start before a bogey at 14th was negated by a birdie at the next but he dropped another bogey at the first hole to be also at the 15th spot.
Chawrasia said:"It's a good start as one expects it to be a high-scoring week. I didn't drop any shots on the front-nine but missed at least four birdie opportunities from close range. The birdie miss from three feet on the eighth was a disappointing one. I feel that is the toughest par-5 hole and a birdie that would have really lifted my confidence.
"The weather interruption didn't really bother me. In fact my round took off after the break. I made two eight feet birdie conversions on the 12th and 15th after play resumed.
"An under-par opening round would give me a good platform to build on so that will be the focus when I resume the first round tomorrow.
(REOPENS DEL 42)
A 10th tee starter, 2015 champion Anirban Lahiri had a torrid time with a series of bogeys, including a double bogey and a triple bogey that spoilt his card and he was left at a dismal four-over for the day.
Out of 41 Indians participating in the tournament, Shiv Kapur, Gaurav Pratap Singh, Rashid Khan and Feroz Ali were one-over after completing their rounds.
Subhankar said:"I am quite happy with today's effort considering I lost a few days of practice in the lead up to the tournament due to illness. I had high fever till Monday which hampered my preparations for the week.
"Importantly, my birdies on the eighth and ninth, came as a result of some brilliant recoveries. I was in trouble on both occasions having hit poor tee shots. But good second shots followed up by 15 feet birdie conversions on both holes helped me close the round on a high.
"It will not be easy to negotiate the greens here as it's tough to hit it close to the pins. That's the biggest challenge at this course. However, I feel I have a slight advantage over the others since this is my home course."
Fernandes was also ecstatic after his first round.
"It was a solid start for me. I hit my first shot of the day out of bounds but recovered nicely. I birdied three of my last four holes today so finished nicely. Hopefully, some momentum going into tomorrow.
