Queens Cup: Rashid co-leader as Chawrasia shoots 4-under

Rashid Khan, showed a welcome return to form after couple of missed cuts, as he shot six-under 65 to take a share of the first round lead at the US

$500,000 Queens Cup backed by Bangkok Airways and Sports Authority of Thailand on Thursday.

Also showing good form, particularly on the back nine was SSP Chawrasia, who is currently second on the Asian Tour's Order of Merit. Chawrasia, even for the front nine, with one each of birdie and bogey, had four birdies against no bogeys on the back nine for a 67 that put him Tied-eighth place.

The other Indians are Rahil Gangjee (69) in T-23, Jeev Milkha Singh and Shiv Kapur at T-44 with cards of 70 each. Sujjan (70) at T-60, Chiragh Kumar (72) at T-72, Arjun Prasad (73) at T-88, Shubhankar Sharma (75) at T-112 and S Chikkarangappa (76) at T-121.

Rashid, winner of two Asian Tour titles, fired eight birdies against two bogeys, one each on either side of the turn and also four birdies on either side.

Chawrasia, who has already expressed his goal to trying to go for the Order of Merit, said, "I'm very happy as I didn't play a practice round. I've played a few times here already but it's not an easy course. Back nine, I shot four under where I made a few putts. It's mentally tough out there. In my mind, I was thinking that I've not played a practice round and the main thing about here is the greens where I don't really know the greens. It was a bit

tough mentally."