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J.M. Singh grabs early Irish Open lead

Jeev Milkha Singh, shown in a 2009 file photo, is the leader after the first round Thursday of the European Tour's Irish Open. (UPI Photo/Kevin Dietsch)
Jeev Milkha Singh, shown in a 2009 file photo, is the leader after the first round Thursday of the European Tour's Irish Open. (UPI Photo/Kevin Dietsch) | License Photo

KILLARNEY, Ireland, July 28 (UPI) -- Jeev Milkha Singh had six birdies and an eagle Thursday in taking a two-stroke lead after the first round of the European Tour's Irish Open.

Singh eagled the par-5, 513-yard seventh hole and didn't have a bogey in an 8-under-par 63. He's two strokes ahead of Alexandre Kaleka, who closed with six birdies in the final seven holes for a 6-under 65.

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Michael Campbell, Christian Nilsson and Marcel Siem are tied for third at 5-under. Campbell joined that threesome by going 5-under over his last five holes.

Singh had only a birdie at the fourth hole and five pars to show as he approached the seventh hole. But his second shot on the par-5 ended up 30 feet from the hole and he made the putt for eagle.

He birdied No. 8 and made the turn at 4-under. He opened the back nine with three consecutive birdies and added another at the 14th. Four pars left him at 63 and in the lead.

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