Quiban shares clubhouse lead     

Filipino Justin Quiban closed out with five birdies in his last seven holes on Thursday to claim a piece of the clubhouse lead in the $750,000 The DGC Open of the Asian Tour at the Delhi Golf Club (DGC) in India with countryman Miguel Tabuena just a shot back after a flawless round.

Quiban, who finished just outside of the Top 20 in the International Series Thailand last week in a tie with Tabuena, picked up three straight shots from No. 12 before closing out birdie-birdie to defending champion Nitthorn Thippong of Thailand at the top with several flights still on the course.

“The front nine was kind of slow,” Quiban told the Asian Tour website. “But the back nine I was hitting it way closer, my putts started to go in. I got confident with my putting stroke.”

Hong Kong’s Kho Taichi was also working on a five-under card after 15 holes at press time.

Tabuena was also steady, and like in Thailand where he opened up with a piece of the lead, the former Philippine Open champion is very near the top.

LJ Go was working on a one-under card with eight holes left in his opening round, with Angelo Que signing for a 74 to be seven off the pace.