Dunhill Links Championship: Disappointing start for Indian trio

It was a very disappointing start for the Indian trio of Shiv Kapur, Jeev Milkha Singh and SSP Chowrasia at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.

As of now, it is unlikely that any of them would make the cut during the last two days.

They were all lying way behind and would need two good rounds over the next two days to make the cut for the final round in a tournament, where the cut is decided after three rounds at different courses – St Andrews, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie.

The final round is played at St Andrews once again.

Among the Indians, Kapur with three-over 75 at Carnoustie was the best 139th place from 168 starters. Kapur had two birdies, three bogeys and a double for his 75.

Chowrasia shot 77 at par-72 Kingbarns after starting with a birdie. But he struggled thereafter with a bogey on 14th, a quadruple on 16th and another bogey on 17th to turn in four-over 40. The second stretch had two bogeys and one birdie for a total of 77.

Jeev playing at St Andrews had no birdies and dropped no less than five bogeys for a 77.

Meanwhile, Walker Cup stars Paul Dunne and Jimmy Mullen got their professional careers off to scintillating starts with rounds of 64 to take a share of the lead alongside Swede Kristoffer Broberg on the first day.

Dunne's opening effort included a hole in one on the 15th at Kingsbarns, one of the three fantastic venues hosting this week's festival of links golf on The European Tour.

Mullen took full advantage of the perfect scoring conditions to notch eight birdies and an eagle to join Dunne and Broberg, who was playing at St Andrews – on eight under par.

At Carnoustie, traditionally the hardest of the trio of courses, home hero Marc Warren continued his solid season to post a four under par round of 68.