Bhullar tied 18th after Rd1 of Jhonnie Walker Championships

Perthshire (Scotland), August 27, 2010: Gaganjeet Bhullar carded a steady three-under 69 to be the highest-placed Indian at tied 18th but Shiv Kapur (76) and SSP Chowrasia (77) seemed in danger of missing the cut after the opening round of the Jhonnie Walker Championships here.

Bhullar slotted in four birdies -- three of which came in the back-nine -- against just a lone bogey on a reasonably good day at the Gleaneagles course.

A stroke adrift of Bhullar was seasoned pro Jyoti Randhawa at the tied 29th position. Randhawa also opened steadily, picking up three birdies against a bogey yesterday.

At one-under 71, Jeev Milkha Singh occupied the tied 48th spot.

Jeev endured a topsy-turvy day during which he stroked in four birdies but was pulled back by a double bogey and a bogey.

However, it was a nightmarish first round for Kapur and Chowrasia.

Kapur, who is tied 130th after the opening day, played out a horrendous front nine which included six bogeys.

He made some amends in the back-nine with three birdies against a bogey but the initial slump could cost him dearly if he fails to turn in a vastly improved card in the second round.

Similar was story of Chowrasia, who is a stroke adrift of Kapur at tied 137th. The Kolkata pro stumbled to six bogeys against just one birdie and will have to raise his game by several notches to stay in the hunt for weekend action.

At the top, Englishman Richard Finch grabbed the sole lead with a flawless six-under 66.

Bhullar to participate in inaugural Singapore Classic

Singapore, August 27, 2010: India's Gaganjeet Bhullar will tee up alongside Asia's number one golfer Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand at the inaugural Handa Singapore Classic next month.

Siddikur Rehman, who made history by becoming the first Bangladeshi player to win a title on the Asian Tour at the Brunei Open, will also make his way to the island republic where a star-studded field is expected to challenge for top honours at the full field Asian Tour event.

The USD 400,000 Handa Singapore Classic is one of the four new events on the Asian Tour Schedule this season and will take place at the highly-rated Orchid Country Club from September 9-12.

Bhullar who reinforced his growing reputation as one of Asia's brightest prospects when he produced a brilliant final-day course record of 64 to win his second Asian Tour title in Bangkok at the start of the year is also expected to be among the contenders at the inaugural event.

The promising 22-year-old Indian has been touted as one of the stars of the future and he will be eager to cement his status with another commanding performance.

Meanwhile Thongchai, whose success across the region includes triumphs in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar is hoping to add Singapore onto his list of conquests.

The 40-year-old Thai has become one of Asia's living legends with his rapid success across the region and abroad. He is the first man to win three Order of Merit crowns and also holds the most number of victories on the Asian Tour with 12 titles.