Good fightback on back nine by Jeev Milkha Singh in Holland

Zandvoort: Jeev Milkha Singh, still looking for his first Top-20 finish in a strokeplay event this season, fought back well on the back nine to finish the day at three-under 67 in the first round of the KLM Open here.

Jeev's 67 placed him tied-26th, while India's other entrant in the event, Shiv Kapur was 102nd after a round of one-over 71 yesterday.

Meanwhile, former Open Champion Paul Lawrie flirted with the first 59 in European Tour history in round one before signing for a nine under par 61 at Kennemer Golf and Country Club. The score was matched late in the day by Australian Wade Ormsby.

Lawrie's 61 was untroubled for most of the day until Ormsby produced a stunning finish with six birdies in his last seven holes ? and three in a row to conclude the round ? to grab a share of top spot.

Jeev opened the day with a bogey and then struck a fine patch with three birdies in four holes between third and sixth. But he was once again pushed back with consecutive bogeys on seventh and eighth. An error-free back nine with birdies on 12th, 14th and 15th saw him claw back to three-under.

Kapur, starting on the tenth, had two bogeys to begin with but birdies on 13rth, 14th and 17th brought him under par. A bogey on first was nullified with a birdie on fifth.

But a double on par-5 seventh saw him slip to 71.

Lawrie, who triumphed at Carnoustie in 1999, again showed his affinity for links golf with an eagle and seven birdies on the Dutch coast. He had another eagle chance on the seventh hole ? his 16th ? but settled for birdie and parred the last two to set a new course record and continue his recent upturn in form.

Lawrie and Ormsby lead by one shot from England's Richard Bland, while five players including home favourite Joost Luiten and last week's runner-up in Russia, Estanislao Goya, are tied on seven under par.

American Tom Watson, playing in the Netherlands for the first time, opened with a one under par 69, while Martin Kaymer, the highest ranked player in the field, signed for a 67.