Bransdon claims share of lead

David Bransdon gave his hopes of regaining a place on the European Tour a shot in the arm as he joined Joost Luiten at the top of the Indonesian Open leaderboard at the end of his opening round in Jakarta.

Australian Bransdon lost his playing privileges on the tour at the end of last season but made a fine start to the tournament at the Cengkareng Golf Club, carding a six-under-par 64.

Despite the wet conditions following an early monsoon that had delayed play for nearly one hour, Bransdon dropped just one shot while carding seven birdies to storm up the leaderboard and move alongside Luiten.

“I putted really well,” said Bransdon. “I drove the ball well too so it was a pretty satisfying start.

“I have done a lot of good work on my short game over the Christmas period and I just couldn’t wait to get back out here and play. It really couldn’t come soon enough and I showed that today. Let’s hope it continues for the rest of the week.”

Dutch youngster Luiten, regarded as one of the most exciting prospects in Europe, was the first of the two to enter the clubhouse with a 64 after an impressive round that yielded eight birdies against two bogeys.

Luiten and Bransdon hold a one-shot lead over Juan Abbate, Prayad Marksaeng, Jeev Milkha Singh and Liang Wen-chong while Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke, two of the tournament’s highest-profile players, finished on two under par.

An impressive performance for Clarke at the South African Open earlier this year suggested the Northern Irishman could be in for an improved season after a disappointing 2007.

However, the 39-year-old has finished no higher than 61st in his last three tournaments and he endured a frustrating opening round today.

Clarke sank birdie putts from three feet on the seventh and par-five ninth and added another birdie on the 10th but he was unable to add to that tally while dropping a shot on the 11th.

“I holed a three-foot putt on the seventh, a three-foot putt on the ninth and an eight-foot putt and that was it,” he said.

“I made a lot chances but unfortunately I didn’t take them.”

Englishman Chris Gane was two shots off the lead through nine holes while defending champion Mikko Ilonen was three under through 10.