Modest one-under start by Jeev in Munich

Jeev Milkha Singh overcame a double bogey start to finish at one-under 71 and was placed at tied 52nd, though some players were still on the course at the BMW International Open at Golfclub Munchen Eichenried

Munich: Jeev Milkha Singh overcame a double bogey start to finish at one-under 71 and was placed at tied 52nd, though some players were still on the course at the BMW International Open at Golfclub Munchen Eichenried.


Jeev Milkha Singh. Pic/AFP 

Among those on the course was his teammate Shiv Kapur one over par after 16 holes. Leading the field was Dane Lasse Jensen, who had a flawless seven-under 65 and one shot behind was England's Andrew Johnston who birdied the last three holes of his opening round. Also at six-under was Rafa Cabrera-Bello.

Johnston, last year's Challenge Tour Rankings winner bogeyed his first hole of the day, but then took advantage of perfect scoring conditions to register seven birdies, including almost holing from the bunker at the ninth -- his last -- for a six under par 66.

That was one ahead of a group including former Race to Dubai winner Henrik Stenson, Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat and English pair Tommy Fleetwood and James Morrison. Johnston earlier this season celebrated winning a car for a hole-in-one during the BMW PGA Championship.

He however missed the cut in his last four appearances. Jeev started on tenth with a double but then parred next seven and got a birdie on 18th. On the second nine, he birdied the first, third and fourth but dropped a shot on eighth.

Starting in tenth Kapur had 10 straight pars and a birdie on 11th, but a double on fourth put him back. He got one shot back on sixth only to give it back on the next hole. World No. 7 Stenson was among those to relish a return to more normal playing conditions after last week's gruelling US Open Championship, carding an eventful opening 67.

Starting on the back nine in the marquee group containing home favourite Martin Kaymer and Ireland's Shane Lowry, Stenson made an ideal start with birdies on the 11th and 12th, but then contrived to take triple bogey seven on the 319-yard par-4 16th after his approach rolled back into the water.

He bounced back to get six birdies after that including four in succession from fifth to eighth. Kaymer also enjoyed a stroke of luck on the ninth after his approach clattered into the trees and bounced out to the edge of a water hazard, from where the two-time Major winner pitched to five feet for an unlikely birdie and a round of 72.

Lowry, who finished ninth at Chambers Bay after starting the final round just three off the lead, found the same hazard with his second shot but got up and down for par to also shoot 72.

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