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Ghei shares lead in Thailand Open

Gaurav Ghei shot a six under par 66 with the help of six birdies to share the top spot with Korean Anthony Kang in the 200,000 dollar Mittweida Thailand Open Golf tournament in Bangkok today.

Jeev Milkha Singh, with a three under par 69, and Amandeep Johl and Amritinider Singh (both with 70) were placed in the 16th and 23rd spots respectively while five other Indians were in lower positions.

Uttam Singh Mundy and Vivek Bhandari shot par rounds to share the 65th place, Arjun Atwal was in 85th with 73 and Kanwar Sekhon languished in the 153rd place with a very poor round of 82.

Ghei and Kang led the Asian PGA even by a stroke from Americans Robert Huxtable and Aaron Meeks and Canada's Jim Rutledge. Both Kang and Ghei tasted victory this year, but teed-off in Thailand struggling with their swings.

While the Indian took the individual title in October's Asian Nations Cup in Malaysia, Kang won the Casino Filipino Philippine Open in May.

''I changed my swing in the summer, and I have been struggling to get used to it. Some days it is very good, other days it is very bad,'' said Ghei.

''I have mainly changed my takeaway to get more consistency in my game, but it is taking time to get used to. I just have to be patient,'' added the Indian, who after starting his round on the 10th, birdied 16, 17 and 18.

Like Kang, Ghei also has an Asian PGA title to his credit. The 31-year-old won the 1995 Gadgil Western Masters in New Delhi, after his famous chip-in-for eagle on the final hole.

The experienced Ghei also made headlines in 1997 when he became the first Indian to play in the British Open, while the year before he beat Colin Montgomerie in the Alfred Dunhill Cup to help India beat Scotland.

Hong Kong's Derek Fung, Americans Gary Rusnak, Ahmad Bateman and Mike Cunning, Ramon Brobio of The Philippines, Thailand's Bunlue Maneerat and Udorn Duangdecha, Japan's Satoshi Oide and Hajime Tanaka, and South African Craig Kamps, all carded 68s. Asian PGA Order of Merit leader Kyi Hla Han of Myanmar, India's Jeev Milkha Singh, and Hong Kong's Scott Rowe fired 69s.

Defending champion James Kingston of South Africa finished on 70, while European tour player Alex Cejka of Germany carded a 72, and 15-year-old Thai amateur star Prom Meesawat-winner of the individual title in last month's Putra Cup- came in with a 73.

UNI