India's leading golfers Vijay Kumar and Uttam Singh Mundy were tied for the 38th position after the opening round in the $500,000 Volvo China Open, which began at the par-72 Shangai Silport Golf Club on Thursday.

Each fired rounds of one-over 73.

The Cosmo Films-sponsored Vijay Kumar's round included back-to-back birdies on the 16th and 17th while he dropped shots on the seventh, 11th and 18th.

Uttam Mundy on the other hand birdied the first, 13th and 18th.  His bogeys materialized on the 12th and 14th with an unfortunate double bogey on the ninth, restricting his progress up the leaderboard.

Local lads Zhang Lian-wei and Liang Wen-chong were tied for the lead at a score of five-under 67, along with Phillippinos Angelo Que and Danny Zarate.

Among the other Indians in the fray, Indian Open '98 winner Feroz Ali and thrice Hero Honda Golf Tour Money List winner Mukesh Kumar were tied 47th at two-over 74.

Harmeet Kahlon occupies the tied-64th position, one stroke behind at 75.

Top-ranked golfer on the Indian Golf Tour Arjun Singh (76) was tied 81st, while Amritinder Singh (77) was tied-91st.