Gaganjeet Bhullar Shines on Day One of Moutai Singapore Open

Bhullar's Strong Start

Gaganjeet Bhullar from India kicked off the Moutai Singapore Open with an impressive performance, recording seven birdies and two bogeys to secure a tie for 10th place after the first round at the Singapore Island Country Club.

Bhullar finished the opening round with a score of 67, five under par, placing him three strokes behind the leader, South Korea's Jeunghun Wang, who dazzled with an 8-under 64 on a day filled with high scores.

After a slow beginning, where he managed three birdies against two bogeys over the first 12 holes, Bhullar surged ahead by sinking four birdies in a remarkable five-hole stretch from holes 13 to 17.

Other Indian players, Ajeetesh Sandhu and veteran SSP Chawrasia, trailed Bhullar by three shots, finishing with a score of 70 (-2).

Wang Leads the Pack

Earlier, Jeunghun Wang took full advantage of the Moutai Singapore Open's return, leading the tournament on its opening day. This event had not been held since 2022 and marks its first appearance at the Singapore Island Country Club in 25 years.

Wang celebrated the occasion with a stellar performance, achieving nine birdies and only one bogey. He leads by one stroke over Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Gunn Charoenkul, and Zimbabwe's Kieran Vincent, all of whom finished with scores of 65. Kiradech, who had a bogey on the final hole, was poised to finish tied for first.

Dominic Foos from Germany, who recently won the SJM Macao Open, along with Americans Micah Shin, Ollie Schniederjans, Caleb Surratt, and Thailand's Nitithorn Thippong, are closely following with scores of 66.

Wang's Journey Back

Wang, who emerged on the scene nearly a decade ago with three European Tour victories, including the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open in 2016, took an 18-month hiatus for national service in Korea. He has been gradually making his way back to form.

"I haven't won a tournament in almost eight years, so I really want to get a win again," the 30-year-old expressed in a press release. "My irons were really good today -- I hit the ball solid all day. My putting was hot too, and I didn't really miss any shots. Overall, I'm very happy with how I played."

Since returning to competitive golf, Wang has secured two second-place finishes and two additional top-five results on the Asian Tour.

Chasing Contenders

Kiradech, the 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, started and ended his round with bogeys but managed to score nine birdies in between. On the par-five 18th, he encountered trouble, hitting his second shot into the water.

"Not the way I wanted to start and finish. A lot of positives in there, a whole lot of good putts, and hitting. A lot of great shots today, looks like everything is going according to plan," he commented.

Gunn Charoenkul, currently working hard to maintain his tour card, is in 56th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit. He has faced challenges this season but remains determined to secure a win this week.

"It's not been a very smooth season. Been a bit of a struggle on the second half of the season with my health, as well, and, you know, with a bit of the equipment. So, with those two issues, you know, I'm borderline at the moment. I really want to win this week," he stated.

Noteworthy Performances

Singapore amateur Troy Storm, who recently represented his country at the World Amateur Team Championship, delivered an impressive score of 67. The 16-year-old, playing on his home course, dropped a shot on the final hole but remains the top local player.

Kazuki Higa from Japan, the leader of the Asian Tour Order of Merit, finished with a score of 70, while Scott Vincent, who leads The International Series Rankings, recorded a 72.