<p class="title">Shubhankar Sharma sunk in five birdies on the back-nine to card a five-under 67, making a solid start at the CIMB Classic here on Thursday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The 22-year-old, who was recently bestowed with the Arjuna Award, was in tied 14th place, four shots behind the surprise leader Bronson Burgoon (63) of USA.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A record four Indians are taking part in the only PGA Tour event in Southeast Asia.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Fiji International champion Gaganjeet Bhullar was the next best placed Indian -- tied 26th at three-under 69.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Anirban Lahiri, who has a good record at TPC Kuala Lumpur in the past, also started well and was three-under par at the turn, but two double bogeys on the back nine saw him finish the day at a disappointing even-par 72 while Rahil Gangjee finished on five-over 77.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The 31-year-old Burgoon ended first day at nine-under 63, one ahead of Austin Cook. Burgoon, starting on back nine, had a bogey on the 13th but then played superb golf with eight birdies and an eagle on par-5 18th, which was his ninth hole.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Burgoon was followed by Austin Cook (64) and three players, including CT Pan, Billy Horschel and Scott Piercy, who carded 65 each.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Eight players including 2015 and 2016 champion Justin Thomas carded 66 each for tied-6th place.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Shubhankar, who is playing all three PGA Tour events in Asia in these three weeks, started with a birdie but made a three-putt bogey on the second and never got going on the front nine.</p>.<p class="bodytext">It was a different story on the back nine as he made five birdies, and missed chances from less than eight feet on another couple of holes.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"The way I played the front nine, I would have been happy to just finish with an under-par score. Things just clicked on the back nine and five-under was really a bonus," Shubhankar, who played in all four majors and the four World Golf Championship events this year, said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I am very satisfied with the start. But I think I need to shoot at least five-under par on all four days to be in contention. This golf course is gettable and we can see lots of low scores already,” he added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Bhullar was even-par after eight holes after starting from the 10th tee, and it was a birdie on the 18th hole (his ninth) that kick-started his run.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"This is a marathon and I am happy that I have made a steady start. I am playing very well and hit about 15 fairways. All I have to do is improve upon this score each day,” Bhullar said.</p>
<p class="title">Shubhankar Sharma sunk in five birdies on the back-nine to card a five-under 67, making a solid start at the CIMB Classic here on Thursday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The 22-year-old, who was recently bestowed with the Arjuna Award, was in tied 14th place, four shots behind the surprise leader Bronson Burgoon (63) of USA.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A record four Indians are taking part in the only PGA Tour event in Southeast Asia.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Fiji International champion Gaganjeet Bhullar was the next best placed Indian -- tied 26th at three-under 69.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Anirban Lahiri, who has a good record at TPC Kuala Lumpur in the past, also started well and was three-under par at the turn, but two double bogeys on the back nine saw him finish the day at a disappointing even-par 72 while Rahil Gangjee finished on five-over 77.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The 31-year-old Burgoon ended first day at nine-under 63, one ahead of Austin Cook. Burgoon, starting on back nine, had a bogey on the 13th but then played superb golf with eight birdies and an eagle on par-5 18th, which was his ninth hole.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Burgoon was followed by Austin Cook (64) and three players, including CT Pan, Billy Horschel and Scott Piercy, who carded 65 each.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Eight players including 2015 and 2016 champion Justin Thomas carded 66 each for tied-6th place.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Shubhankar, who is playing all three PGA Tour events in Asia in these three weeks, started with a birdie but made a three-putt bogey on the second and never got going on the front nine.</p>.<p class="bodytext">It was a different story on the back nine as he made five birdies, and missed chances from less than eight feet on another couple of holes.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"The way I played the front nine, I would have been happy to just finish with an under-par score. Things just clicked on the back nine and five-under was really a bonus," Shubhankar, who played in all four majors and the four World Golf Championship events this year, said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I am very satisfied with the start. But I think I need to shoot at least five-under par on all four days to be in contention. This golf course is gettable and we can see lots of low scores already,” he added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Bhullar was even-par after eight holes after starting from the 10th tee, and it was a birdie on the 18th hole (his ninth) that kick-started his run.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"This is a marathon and I am happy that I have made a steady start. I am playing very well and hit about 15 fairways. All I have to do is improve upon this score each day,” Bhullar said.</p>