NEW DELHI, October 13, 2011 (AFP) - India's Chiragh Kumar fired a sparkling eight-under-par 64 on Thursday to take a surprising one shot lead in the first round of the Hero Indian Open.
Kumar upstaged Asian Tour stars gathered at the Delhi Golf Club with a flawless round highlighted by eight birdies in the US$1.25 million event.
Veteran Zaw Moe of Myanmar was a further stroke back with Scotland's Ross Bain and Lin Wen-hong of Taiwan, who was disqualified in the final round of the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship last week.
Kumar, 27, a 2006 Asian Games team silver medallist and a two-time winner on the local circuit, could have extended his lead by two but missed a 15 foot eagle putt on the last.
"I wanted to keep it simple. I didn't have a score in mind but I read my putts well. I've definitely improved playing with Asia's best," he said.
"I don't have any expectations in this tournament but I hope I can continue my form and hopefully I'll still be on top of the leader board on Sunday."
Moe, 44, has enjoyed two top-10 finishes since changing to a belly putter in the Macau Open in September.
"One of the reasons for my good form is my belly putter which has helped me a lot," said Moe, whose last victory on the Asian Tour was in 1997.
"My putting has been very consistent since I changed it and my confidence is really high at the moment."
Lin would have finished in tied third if he did not sign for the wrong score last week, but he bounced back Thursday with five consecutive birdies from the 13th hole.
"I was really sad after last week but it looks like I've recovered," said Lin.
"To be honest, I didn't expect to play well here. I came here without thinking of winning at all. I'm here just to play hole by hole and hopefully get a good result," added the younger brother of Asian Tour winners Wen-tang and Wen-ko.
The Dubai-based Bain, who finished second in the Indian Open in 2001, carded his best score at the Delhi Golf Club, highlighted by birdies in his opening three holes.
He added four more birdies, one eagle and two bogeys to share the first round lead.
"I got off to a fast start... I played very well on the par fives which you have to do on this course... It is nice to feel that I got the better of Delhi Golf Club," said Bain, who is searching for a maiden Asian Tour victory.
Scores after the first round Thursday in the Hero Indian Open 2011 at the Delhi Golf Club.
64 - Chiragh Kumar (IND)
65 - Lin Wen-hong (TPE), Ross Bain (SCO), Zaw Moe (MYN)
67 - Scott Barr (AUS)
68 - David Gleeson (AUS), Angelo Que (PHI), Adilson Da Silva (BRA)
69 - Om Prakash Chouhan (IND), Tjaart Van Der Walt (RSA), Himmat Rai (IND), Chapchai Nirat (THA), Rikard Karlberg (SWE), Gurki Shergill (IND), S.S.P. Chowrasia (IND), Atthaphon Prathummanee (THA), Young Nam (KOR), Jbe Kruger (RSA), Baek Seuk-Hyun (KOR), Simon Griffiths (ENG), Namchok Tantipokhakul (THA)