Indian buddies Lahiri, Chikkarangappa share lead in Macao Open

The two close friends were one stroke ahead of a group of five players, including Thailand's Rattanon Wannasrichan who fired a sparkling 65 for the best round of the day.

"It'll be tough. Chikka is a fierce competitor. It'll be good to battle it out with him," said Lahiri, the reigning Asian Tour number one who won the Macao title in 2014 and was runner-up last year.

England's Ian Poulter, returning to tournament golf following a four-and-a-half month layoff with a foot injury, shot a level-par 71 to lie joint 14th at five under par.

(Reporting by Ed Osmond, editing by Ian Chadband)