Shanghai, Sep 11 (IANS) Simi Mehra started off brilliantly but finished in a disappointing manner in the first round of the $300,000 Binhai Open at the Binhai Golf Course in Shanghai.

The US-based Indian golfer, who has top-10 finishes in both her starts on the Ladies Asian Golf Tour this season, was three-under after seven holes, but then following a bogey on ninth, she dropped bogeys on 11th and 14th and a double bogey on 16th to finish at two-over 74 and in tied 40th place.

Korea’s rookie professional Lee Eun-kyoung, who underwent a benign tumor surgery a few months ago, took a surprise lead in the opening round of the $300,000 Binhai Open.

Eun-kyoung shot a 3-under 69 on the par-72 Binhai Golf Course. She started off with three consecutive birdies, then added another one on the 16th before losing a stroke on the 17 for her three-under total.

As an amateur player, Eun-kyoung started as a caddy for her older sister Lee Ji-woo on the KLPGA Tour. Then, when Ji-woon earned a card to play on the Japan LPGA Tour last year, Eun-young decided to turn pro.

Eun-young did not play good in the first half of the KLPGA Tour events. During the seven week-break after the first half of the KLPGA season, Eun-young was diagnosed with cancer of the ovary. She underwent a surgery where doctors removed a growth - the size of a baby’s head. At the same time, the doctors also discovered that both her breasts were also infected.

Four Korean players - defending champion Na Da-ye, rising star Seo Hee-kyung, Yoon Chae-young, Lee Chang-hee and England’s Danielle Montgomerie - are tied on second spot, after shooting identical under-70.

China’s Yan Panpan’s one-under 71 leaves her two strokes off the leader and hopes to snatch the lead by the end of tomorrow’s round.

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