The Indian contingent at the BMW Asian Open golf had a tough time on the opening day with none of them coming under par and Rahil Gangjee with a round of one-over 73 was the best of the five in he fray.

While Gangjee was lying tied 50th with his 73, three others, Amandeep Johl, Gaurav Ghei and SSP Chowrasia shot three-over 75 each and were tied 90th.

Shiv Kapur struggled with a round of 77 and was tied 123rd. The cut is likely at one or two-over and the Indians will need to play well in the second round to stay on for the weekend.

Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin blazed into the first round lead with a six-under-par 66 as tournament drawcard Ernie Els battled to a 71.

Jacquelin extended his rich vein of form at Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club and leads by one stroke from Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark.

Korea's Lee Sung, who was born deaf, produced a fine 68 to lie in a share of third place with Asian Tour regular Gavin Flint of Australia and Gregory Havret of France.

Chinese Taipei's Lin Wen-hong, playing on an invitation from the club, sparkled with a 69 to tie eight-time European number one Colin Montgomerie of Scotland and Australia's Scott Hend.

World number five Els, winner of the BMW Asian Open in 2005 by a record 13 strokes, struggled on the greens with a couple of three-putt bogeys after the turn but was delighted with his opening day's effort, just over 24 hours after arriving in Shanghai.