AGADIR (Morocco): Gaganjeet Bhullar fired four birdies in the last six holes and gave himself a solid start in the Trophee Hassan II in Morocco as he remained tied sixth after carding an impressive five-under 67.
Another Indian Shiv Kapur however was struggling at two-over through 12 holes.
Bhullar, who has made good starts in the past few weeks, has been unable to hold on to them, but has nevertheless been steady in his rookie season on the European Tour.
Bhullar was three behind the early leader, American Connor Arendell, who birdied four of his last five holes to snatch the clubhouse lead.
Bhullar started birdie-birdie and then dropped a bogey on third. He closed the front nine with a birdie and turned in one-under.
He birdied the 10th to get to two-under but slumped with a double bogey on par-3 12th. He quickly recovered with four birdies in last six holes, two on last two holes.
Bhullar said, "I had 15 greens in regulations, which is very good on this kind of a golf course, which is up and down. My short was also up to the mark and I also made a good sand save."
He added, "This is my first time in this beautiful golf course. It also reminds me of some of the old-school golf courses in India, where the ball tends to run a bit and it can be tricky.
Talking of his form and season so far, Bhullar said, "Ever since I got my full status on the Tour, my form has been good. I have had chances to get into contention and top-5, but I just need to be patient and surely my time will come."
Bhullar, who is a key member of the Asian Team for EurAsia Cup later this month.
"I am looking forward to EurAsia Cup and I have been touch with some of the members and it will be great to get there."
India's Anirban Lahiri will also be part of the Asian team, lead by Thongchai Jaidee.
American Arendell is a Qualifying School graduate, who missed his first four cuts this season, but showed good form on Thursday to shoot seven under par 65.
Arendell was one ahead of Scotland's Marc Warren and English pair Andy Sullivan and Tommy Fleetwood, Johnnie Walker Championship winner.
Alongside Bhullar was Scotland's Peter Whiteford at 67, while defending champion Marcel Siem returned a card of 69. Siem, who enjoyed a wire-to-wire win here 12 months ago, picked up a neck injury on his flight to Agadir and was advised to pull out of the pre-tournament Pro-Am yesterday.
But the 33 year old showed few signs of the problem as he carded five birdies in his first six holes before dropping shots on the 16th and 18th.
A birdie on the first took Siem back to four under but he had to scramble a par on the fifth after finding water with his approach to the par five and then double-bogeyed the next after fluffing his chip.
Another birdie on the last meant Siem finished three under par alongside playing partner George Coetzee, who is looking for a good performance to climb inside the top 50 on the Official World Golf Ranking from 56th in order to secure a place in the Masters Tournament next month.
