Rashid starts well in Taiwan, lies second after first round

Rashid Khan produced a brilliant four-under 68 to lie tied second after the opening round of the USD 650,000 Mercuries Taiwan Masters at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club’s Tamsui course here on Thursday.

The Indian golfer followed up a sedate start with a fine back nine that included two successive chip-ins for a birdie and an eagle to emerge as the best Indian. S Chikkarangappa (72) was tied <g data-gr-id="19">12th</g> but the other Indians were headed to over-par scores. Malaysia’s Danny Chia took advantage of the favourable scoring conditions in the morning to seize the clubhouse lead with an opening five-under 67.

Himmat Rai (73) was tied 19th, while the experienced Arjun Atwal, Gaganjeet Bhullar and Rahil Gangjee -- all with 76 each -- were tied 57th and Chiragh Kumar (78) and Angad Cheema (81) were further down. The conditions were excellent for scoring in the morning and then became tougher in the afternoon.

Rashid, winner of two Asian Tour titles, had eight straight pars before making a birdie on the 18th to turn in one-under after starting from the tenth tee. He added another shot on the par-three second after missing a hole-in-one by six inches. A bogey on third was his first error of the day when he missed an up-and-down for par.