Suri and Gallacher Share Early Lead at Indian Open

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW DELHI — Julian Suri and Stephen Gallacher shared the lead at the Indian Open after opening rounds of 5-under-par 67 on Thursday.

Gallacher, who finished among the top 10 in the tournament last year, eagled his last hole with a putt from off the green.

"It was a perfect morning," the Scot said.

"Cool to start with and then it heated up later on in the round, and not too much wind, so it was perfect."

Suri joined Gallacher at the top when his bunker shot on the 18th hole gave him a birdie.

Suri missed the cut last year in his only appearance at the Indian Open and is playing just his second event of the season after surgery on an abdominal hernia.

He made a hat trick of birdies from the seventh.

"To shoot a score like this, on a course like this, is a good sign going forward," the American said.

Christiaan Bezuidenhout of South Africa, Robert Karlsson of Sweden, Prom Meesawat of Thailand, and Pablo Larrazabal of Spain all were at 4-under 68.

Karlsson enjoyed eagles on Nos. 7 and 8, and Larrazabal eagled the par-4 13th.

Scott Hend and local favourite Shubhankar Sharma were among a group of nine men tied at 3 under.