A couple of late bogeys on Thursday saw Oliver Bekker sign for a three-under-par 69 in the opening round of the DP World Tour’s Hero Indian Open at DLF Golf & Country Club in New Delhi.

Bekker made the turn in four-under 32 after five birdies and a bogey in his first seven holes, and he got it to five-under with another birdie on 13. But bogeys on 15 and 18 saw him finish four shots off the three-way share of the lead in a share of 22^nd place.

In the lead were Joost Luiten of the Netherlands, Japan’s Keito Nakajima and Italian Matteo Manassero, who each carded seven-under 65. Manassero’s was bogey-free with an eagle and five birdies, while Luiten made two bogeys and Nakajima one. They led by one from England’s Sam Bairstow and Jordan Smith, together with Frenchman Romain Langasque.

In a share of 22^nd with Bekker was Casey Jarvis, who had an eagle, a birdie and four bogeys on an adventurous front nine. His back nine was blemish-free however, with four birdies.

Pieter Moolman was a shot back on two-under in a share of 34^th, while Daniel van Tonder and Brandon Stone were on level-par in a share of 43^rd.

Dylan Mostert was on two-over in a share of 94^th, and Jayden Schaper was on three-over. Jaco Prinsloo carded a four-over 76.