India's Arjun Singh was placed joint 12th after the opening round of the $400,000 Kolon Korean Open golf championship, being played at Cheonan, South Korea.

Arjun carded a par score of 72 at the Woo Jeong Hills Country Club in the Asian PGA Tour event, which saw South African Hendrik Buhrmann shoot into lead with a day one card of four-under-par 68.

Tournament draw card and world number three Ernie Els carded 71 on a day when only eight players managed below par scores due to tough conditions.

But despite the treacherous course, Arjun is hoping to build on from his reasonably good first round performance.

"It is punishing out there if you find the rough. I am happy with my start and, hopefully, will be able to carry on," said the Indian pro.

Sharing the 12th place with Arjun were Adam Groom (Aus), Simon Yates (Scotland), Kim-Dae-sub (South Korea), Kang Sung-hoon (South Korea) and Greg Hanrahan (United States).