Indian ace Jyoti Randhawa was tied for the 57^th place on the opening day of the US $1.21 million Carlsberg Malaysian Open, which teed off on Thursday at the Saujana Golf and Country Club, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Asian PGA Order of Merit winner for the 2002 season returned a card of even par 72.

Compatriots Arjun Singh, Amandeep Johl and Harmeet Kahlon all submitted cards of one-over 73 apiece to be tied for the 69^th place along with with Scotsman Colin Montgomerie while Jeev Milkha Singh was one stroke behind and placed joint-86^th.

The other Indian in fray, Vijay Kumar, had a dismal round of five-over 77 to be in the 127^th spot.

However, playing some hot golf, England's Jamie Elson shot a superb six-under 66 to share lead with two others – Martin Maritz of South Africa and Australian Terry Price. The trio were ahead of Malaysian Airul Rizman Zahari by a solitary stroke in the event joint-sanctioned by Europe and Asia.

Randhawa had an ominous start with a bogey on the opening hole after teeing off from the par-4 10^th. However he nullified it on the very next hole with a birdie. Adding two more birdies on both the par-5s – the 13^th and 18^th, the Gurgaon-based professional was two-under after his front nine.

However, the 32-year-old lost a stroke each on the par-3 11^th and the penultimate hole of his round and returned to the club house with a level par score.