KLM Open: Gaganjeet Bhullar shoot even par; Jeev Milkha Singh, Shiv Kapur may miss the cut

NETHERLANDS: Gaganjeet Bhullar seemed to be the only Indian golfer in with a good chance of making the weekend rounds as he carded even par 70 in the first round of the KLM Open in The Netherlands.

Bhullar, who had three birdies and as many bogeys was lying tied 47th, while Jeev Milkha Singh (72) was tied 87th and Shiv Kapur (75) was 129th and in danger of missing the cut.

The cut looks likely at even par at the par-70 Kennemer Golf & Country Club.

The first round was completed today morning after play was suspended on account of fading light on Thursday evening.

Home favourite Joost Luiten was pleased to have made a perfect start to his title defence as a brilliant inward 32 saw him claim share of the lead.

Luiten was level par through 11 holes but stormed home with three birdies and an eagle in his last seven holes for a five under par 65. He was one shot clear of Peter Uihlein, Edoardo Molinari, Andrea Pavan and Gary Stal, all of whom shot 66 each.

There was delay on the first day after this season's BMW International Open winner Fabrizio Zanotti was injured by a ball struck from the 14th tee by Alexandre Kaleka when he was on the 16th fairway.

The 31-year-old did not lose consciousness and received treatment on the course from a doctor and a paramedic before he was then taken to hospital as a precaution where he was accompanied by fellow players Felipe Aguilar and Ricardo Gonzalez, who withdrew from the tournament to stay with him.