The wet and windy conditions at the Cengkareng Golf Club could not dampen Jeev Milkha Singh’s game and the Indian got off to an impressive start with a five-under 65 that had him tied third after the first round of the Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesia Open on Thursday.

Australia’s David Bransdon and Joost Luiten of The Netherlands carded identical rounds of 64 to share the lead as rain did not allow 42 other players to complete their rounds. They will return early on Friday to complete the first round in the co-sanctioned event between the Asian Tour and European Tour.

Determined to erase the poor memories of last week’s Indian Masters where he failed to make the cut, Jeev ignited his title charge with a solid display, closing his round with a birdie on the final hole.

Playing the back nine first, Jeev parred the 10th before a birdie hat-trick to take the turn at three-under.

On the way back, he dropped a shot on the third hole but made amends with birdies on the sixth, seventh and ninth to finish just one shot adrift of the joint leaders. Among Jeev’s compatriots, Arjun Atwal looked in good nick too and the Orlando-based Indian was four-under with one more hole to go when rain left him stranded.

Similarly, Gaurav Ghei ended the day at three-under with six more holes to go. India’s top golfer Jyoti Randhawa mixed five birdies and three bogeys to finish with a card of 68, one shot ahead of Shiv Kapur.

Playing his back nine first, Rahil Gangjee was even-par after three holes when he had to run for cover. It, however, proved an erratic outing for Amandeep Johl (75) who was done in by a treble of double bogeys.

Leading first round scores: 64: Joost Luiten (Ned), David Bransdon (Aus); 65: Liang Wen-Chong (Chi), Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind), Prayad Marksaeng (Tha), Juan Abbate (Arg), Kyron Sullivan (Wal), Philip Golding (Eng), Felipe Aguilar (Chi); 66: Adam Blyth (Aus), Scott Barr (Aus), Marcus Both (Aus), Rhys Davies(Wal), Thomas Aiken (Rsa), Prom Meesawat (Tha), Edoardo Molinari (Ita), Mikko Ilonen (Fin).