PERTH, Jan 29: Jeev Milkha Singh shot a three under 69 on the opening round at the $924,000 Vines Classic golf tournament, according to information reaching here.Welshman Ian Woosnam fought injury, heat and a strong afternoon wind, to post a six-under par 66 and lead the field by one stroke after the opening round on Thursday. Woosnam, a winner here in 1996, has been receiving treatment for a trapped nerve in his left arm since arriving here on Saturday and left the course on Thursday after noon for another session with his physiotherapist.
Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal was the early club-house leader at five-under par when Woosnam started his round, with the latter the only golfer in the afternoon group to challenge that lead.Englishman Martin Gates shot a five-under par after 12 holes, and is now in equal third position along with Australian Robert Allenby, Scotland's Andrew Coltart and Germany's Thomas Gogele. Tournament favourite, world number-three Ernie Els, had a steady round and is close behindthe leaders after a two-under par 70.
Leading scores: 66 Ian Woosnam (Gbr); 67 Jose Maria Olazabal (Spn); 68 Thomas Gogele (Ger), Robert Allenby, Martin Gates (Gbr), Andrew Coltart (Gbr); 69 Paul McGinley (Irl), Terry Price, Peter Senior, Wayne Grady, Scott Laycock, Craig Jones, Bernhard Langer (Ger), J.J. West (USA), Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind)
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
