Chennai, Aug 19 - Defending champion Mukesh Kumar, Digvijay Singh and Gurbaaz Mann shot identical scores of five-under 65 to grab a share of the first round lead at the PGTI-125th Year Madras Gymkhana Club Tamil Nadu Open 2009 here Wednesday.

Vishal Singh was one stroke behind the joint leaders in fourth place.

Mukesh Kumar, a 10th tee starter, displayed the kind of form which helped him win the tournament last year. He birdied the 12th, 13th, 15th and 18th as he sank some long putts, including one from 20 feet on the 15th. The 2007-08 PGTI Order of Merit champion's lone bogey on the first nine was on the 14th. The Mhow-based golfer thus made the turn at three-under.

Mukesh's second bogey of the day came on the fifth where he found the rough and then missed a five footer for par. He continued his good form with the putter over the last stretch to garner birdies on the sixth, seventh and ninth.

'I have been in good hitting form of late but the key lies in doing well with the putter. I'm glad all aspects of my game clicked today including the putting. I had 26 putts in all in round one,' said Mukesh.

Digvijay Singh started well, hitting his six iron tee shot to within six feet of the flag on the par three second.