Bhullar starts with solid 70 on opening day in Fiji

Gaganjeet Bhullar shot a solid two-under 70 on a difficult and wind-swept opening day to lie Tied 8th at the Fiji International here on Thursday.

Bhullar, making his maiden appearance in Fiji, was one of the only 18 players who posted a sub-par round at the picturesque Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course here.

Ajeetesh Sandhu, meanwhile, recovered superbly from being three-over after 13 to finish at one-over following three birdies between 14th and 17th holes. He was T-33.

Chiragh Kumar shot five-over 77, while Shiv Kapur, who finished second last week in Pattaya, was swept away to eight-over 80, with seven bogeys, a double bogey and just one birdie.

Australia’s Andrew Dodt, searching for his first Asian Tour win since 2015, was off to a flying start at five-under-par 67 to grab a share of the first round lead with Australian compatriots Jarryd Felton and Nicholas Cullen and Kiwi Ben Campbell.

Bhullar, who began on the 10th, had four birdies against two bogeys as he managed to find all fairways despite blustery conditions.

Bhullar, seeking his first title of the current season and the ninth of his career, opened with a birdie on 11th, but gave that shot away on the next hole.

He traded a birdie on 16th with a bogey on 18th. On the second nine, the front side of the course, Bhullar birdied first and third holes and moved into red figures and parred the remaining seven for a 70.

“It was a good round of golf. I think I gave myself a lot of opportunities. It was quite windy in the morning but I managed to keep my ball in play. I hit about 13 greens in regulation today. So it was a good, solid round of golf,” Bhullar said.

He added, “I don’t think anything’s missing in my game. I just need to have more patience and some more maturity towards my weekend rounds.