NEW DELHI: Germany’s Marcel Siem squeezed six birdies and an eagle in an 8-under-par 64 to set the pace in the Avantha Masters first round on Thursday.
The 29-year-old, hunting his second victory on the European Tour, was one stroke ahead of Chan Yih-shin of Chinese Taipei.
A further two shots adrift on 67 were Singapore’s Lam Chih-Bing, Britons Barry Lane and John Parry, Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen, Thai Thaworn Wiratchant, Australian Andrew Dodt and Indian Rahil Gangjee.
“I can’t remember the last time I shot 64,” Siem told reporters. “It must be at least three years ago.
“I am pretty happy with that. It’s definitely my best round for a few years.”
Siem, who started on the 10th hole, finished with a real flourish when he holed a 20-foot putt for an eagle three at the ninth. His only European Tour win came at the 2004 Dunhill Championship in South Africa.
Chan, who won his first Asian Tour title in Bangkok at the end of last season, had to shrug off a sore back on Thursday.
“I’m happy with my score today considering I was getting some treatment for my back yesterday,” he said. “I’m feeling fine now and a.m. ready for the next three days.” Lam was also in the wars, having recovered from a bout of food poisoning.
“I’m quite surprised how I played today because I almost couldn’t walk on the course yesterday,” he said.
“I only dropped one shot, on the fifth hole, but overall you win some and you lose some.” Former Ryder Cup player Darren Clarke opened with a 71 while world No. 59 Jeev Milkha Singh of India - the highest ranked player in the field - carded a 72.
The event is worth 250,000 euros ($344,800) to the winner and is the first following a new joint venture between the European and Asian tours to be known as EurAsia Golf.
