Ajeetesh, Aman and Viraj shoot 69 each in Jakarta

The Indian trio Ajeteesh Sandhu, Aman Raj and Viraj Madappa carded three-under 69 each to be at tied-16th at the end of the first day of the BNI Indonesian Masters golf tournament here on Thursday.

They were the best placed Indians and were four shots behind the leader, local amateur Naraajie Emerald Ramadhanputra, South African Keith Horne and Steven Jeffress of Australia, who shot 65 each.

All the three Indians had four birdies against one bogey.

Shiv Kapur (70) was T-32, Jyoti Randhawa (71) at T-53 while SSP Chawrasia, Arjun Atwal and Veer Ahlawat, with 72 each, were T-67.

S Chikkarangappa and Rashid Khan, with 73 each, Khalin Joshi (74), and Aadil Bedi (78) were further down.

The 19-year-old Naraajie got off to a flying start with five straight birdies from the 11th hole before adding three more birdies against a bogey on his way home at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.

Jeffress, who played without a practice round this week, rediscovered the spark in his game as he closed with three