Jeev tied fourth in Japan;
Atwal disappoints

Jeev Milkha Singh indicated a return to form as he tied for the fourth place at the halfway stage of the 100-million-yen (appx US$-775,000) Tsuruya Open, the third event of the 2002 season of the Japanese PGA Tour.

According to information from the par-71 Sports Shinko Country Club in Hyohgo, Japan, Jeev, who is sponsored by Hero Honda Motors, shot a two-under 69 on the opening day to be tied for the fifth place. On day two, the Chandigarh-based pro added a three-under 68 to aggregate five-under 137 after two rounds.

Jeev was four strokes off the leader, Hiroyuki Fujita, who shot rounds of 67 and 66 to tally nine-under 133. Kazumasa Sakaitani was second at seven-under 135, while American Dean Wilson was third at six-under 136.

The 30-year-old Indian ace could have finished as joint leader after the first day but for an unfortunate double bogey on the par-4 14th hole, where he missed the green in regulation and then three-putted. However, he made up for the mistake with an eagle on the very next hole, the par-5 15th.

On Friday, Jeev's putting was much better and he completed the round with just 26 putts. He made birdies on the fourth, sixth and eighth holes in his front nine. On the back nine, a birdie on the 10th was negated by a bogey on the 11th.

The Tsuruya Open is Jeev's second Japanese PGA Tour event of the season. Earlier, he had finished tied for the 33rd place in the Dydo Drinco Shizuoka Open. Jeev had a brilliant 2001 in Japan where he finished in the top-10 on six occasions and was runner-up in iiyama Cup, a major on the Japanese Tour.

Atwal's disastrous finish: Meanwhile Arjun Atwal, the only Indian and the fourth Asian to win a European PGA Tour event, began the 1.7 million-euro Canarias Open de Espana in a disastrous fashion when he dropped five strokes in the last three holes and finished the opening day at six-over 78. That put him in tied 144th place and in distinct danger of missing the cut.

Atwal was one-over after 15 holes, but made double bogies on the 16th and 17th and closed with a bogey. David Gilford of England and Soren Hansen of Denmark led the tournament, being played at El Cortijo Club de Campo course, at six-under 66. Spanish superstar Sergio Garcia was among four tied for third place at five-under 67.

Daniel Chopra makes a steady start: Daniel Chopra of Sweden, who honed his skills in India, made a steady start at the $-525,000 BMW Charity Pro-Am, the second event of the 2002 season of the Buy.com Tour in the United States of America, when he shot a two-under 70 on the opening day to be tied for the 44th place.

Daniel's round included five birdies and three bogies. He was five strokes off the lead, which was shared by Joe Daley, Ken Green, Stan Utley and Andy Sanders at seven-under 65. The tournament is being played at the Cliffs Valley course in Greenville.