Randhawa ahead as Els lurks

Jyoti Randhawa: One-stroke lead after opening round of the Hong Kong Open

Jyoti Randhawa of India claimed a one-shot lead after the first round of the Hong Kong Open following an opening six-under-par 64 at Fanling.

Randhawa finished the day one clear of Angelo Que of the Philippines, while the likes of Ernie Els and Nicolas Colsaerts were part of a large group two back of the early pacesetter.

Making his debut appearance at the event, four-time major winner Els mixed six birdies with two bogeys on the tight Hong Kong GC track, although he admitted he was far from satisfied with his overall display.

“I missed three very makeable putts. If people had the cameras with us on the front, you'd have thought I was a seven-handicap.  But I pulled it together and played much better on the back nine,” he commented.

“You want to have a good round the first day, it's easy to shoot yourself out of it. At first there's quite a lot of pressure and then you take it from there. Each day, it's like a session in cricket - you take the session and do as best as you can, and then it all happens on Sunday afternoon."

Meanwhile, in-form Colsaerts -  who came close to posting the European Tour’s first-ever 59 in Portual last week â€" posted five birdies and a bogey in his 66.

Hot putter

England’s James Heath, Raphael Jacquelin of France and Spain’s Nacho Elvira were amongst the other members of the nine-man group at four-under.

First round leaderboard

(GB & Ire unless stated)
-6 J Randhawa (Ind)
-5 A Que (Phi)
-4 N Colsaerts (Bel)
-4 J Heath
-4 WC Lu (Tai)
-4 J Kruger (SA)
-4 N Elvira
-4 R Jacquelin (Fra)
-4 E Els (SA)
-4 SH Baek (Kor)
-4 D Huizing (Ned)

Click here for collated scores

But they are all looking up at Jandhawa who produced a magical display with the putter to end the day in splendid isolation at the top of the leaderboard.

The 42-year-old needed just 23 putts during his first round and said afterwards: “I’ve been playing decent in the last few weeks but haven’t been able to put up a good number.

“Today I really putted my heart out, so I’m really happy with the way it went, and I’m glad I got the pace on the greens right.”

Miguel Angel Jimenez’s hopes of winning the event for an unprecedented fifth time were hampered by a stomach bug with the Spaniard returning a disappointing two-over 72 to lie well down the field.

“I've been hitting good,” he said afterwards. “ I make only one birdie but I saved a couple of good pars, and then I missed a couple of birdies, also. It has been done before so I will try to move up the leaderboard.”