Another Indian golfer to the fore in Asia

BY Bruce Young | Asian Tour | 2002 Hong Kong Open | Round One | 28 Nov 2002

Round one of the 2002 Hong Kong Open is nearly complete and for the second week in a row an Indian golfer is challenging for a title in an event co-sanctioned by the Asian and European Tours

After Jyoti Rhandawa’s second to Padraig Harrington at last week’s BMW Asian Open, his counrtyman Amandeep Johl has grabbed the first round lead at Hong Kong Open co-sanctioned with the European and Asian PGA Tours.

Johl is currently 57th on the Asian PGA Tour so he should enjoy this moment as it is not expected, with due respect, that he will be there for long. He has been a winner of lesser events over the years but the thirty three year old has never finished better in any one year than 32nd on the Asian PGA Tour money list so these are giddy heights. His opening round of six under 63 has him alone in the lead.

Stephen Dodd of Wales, Henrik Nystrom from Sweden and Tony Johnstone of Zimbabwe are one shot back in second place at five under.

Adrian Percey is the leading Australasian in 14th place at three under, Kim Felton even par in 60th, Eddie Lee and Unho Park two over in 97th place and David Gleeson a surprising first round of 80.

The talk of the tournament, 13-year-old Taiwanese, Loh Shih-Kai, opened with a first round 73, four over.