Marcel Siem pulled off an eagle putt on his last hole at the Avantha Masters in New Delhi, India to lead by one stroke after today's first round.
The 29-year-old Siem shot six birdies before producing an eagle on the 9th with a 19-foot putt from the fringe of the green (Siem had begun the day's play on the 10th). Better yet, Siem didn't make any foul-ups in between the birdies, shooting a bogey-free round to come in 64-under-par.
"I cannot remember the last time that I shot 64 to be honest with you," said the German, who won the Dunhill Championship 2004. "It must be at least three years ago so I am pretty happy with that. It's definitely my best round for a few years."
Siem's performance nosed him in front of Chinese Taipei's Yih-Shin Chan, who finished on seven-under. Chan had seemed intent on matching Siem throughout the day, hitting six birdies of his own and even picking up an eagle on the 9th, but a bogey he collected on the 16th left him just off the pace.
Seven players were tied for third on five-under, including the English pair Barry Lane and John Parry, who each collected six birdies and a bogey. Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen could also have challenged for the lead, but he too ended on five-under after hitting bogeys on the 11th, 12th and 14th holes along with the six birdies and the eagle he shot on his final hole, the 18th. Also on five-under was Rahil Gangjee, who was comfortably India's best performer, scoring six birdies and a bogey on the 16th.
Scotland's David Drysdale is tied for 10th place as is England's David Bland, along with several others. Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke came in one-under and is currently tied for 36th place, the Ryder Cup hopeful picking up three birdies and two bogeys. India's No. 1 player Jeev Milkha Singh finished on par to tie for 56th place, after cancelling out three birdies with a trio of bogeys.
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