On the front half, he bogeyed first and second to be even par and lose all early advantage. Then he birdied the fifth, eagled the sixth and birdied the ninth to finish four-under.

Digvijay Singh shot a 69 to lie 15th, while seasoned Gaurav Ghei and C Muniyappa shot 71 each to be 34th.

Bhullar after three birdies in a row from fourth to sixth lapsed into errors and ended with at three-over 74 that put him tied 80th and in danger of missing the cut, which seems likely at two or three-over. Chiragh Kumar (76) was 109th and Manav Jaini (77) was 121st. Himmat Rai was one-over after 15 holes and among those who were unable to complete their first round and will return in the morning.

'I'm happy to be hitting the ball well, thinking well and reacting to the golf shots well and that's what I will be aiming for this week. We played quite a few holes in rain. Played two holes in blinding rain and I made two bogeys on those holes but I'm happy that I could recover,' said Gangjee.

'I hit it well especially my eagles on the par-5s 13th and sixth so that really helped. I've been out here long enough to know that there is a long way to go so I'm not feeling or thinking anything much,' he said.

Despite being ill with the flu this week, Chia rose from his sick bed to charge into the lead, thanks to an eagle and six birdies against a lone bogey. He eagled the par five 13th hole after his five-iron landed 15 feet of the pin.