Embarrassed Japol fluffs his way to a score of 109

Stumbling from one disaster to another in the opening round of the Kharkov Superior Cup yesterday, Japol signed for an embarrassing 37-over-par 109.

His card included a 13 at the par-5 13th and a six-over-par ten at the fifth, as he finished the day a massive 45 shots behind the leader, Frenchman Victor Riu.

It was a shocking effort by Japol, who is playing in the event as a “national/invited player” along with the likes of former AC Milan and Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko and Yevgeny Kafelnikov, the one-time tennis world No 1.

It is the second time this year that a professional has failed to break 100 in a Tour event.  Playing in the United Leasing Championship, an event on the Web.com circuit, assistant club pro Michael Bembenick signed for 103 in June.

It is also the second time this season that a Polish player has been out of his depth in a professional event. Jan Lubieniecki slumped to rounds of 89 and 83 at Royal Birkdale to finish  32-over in the Senior Open Championship.

Kafelnikov, a professional and making his eighth appearance split between the European and Challenge Tours this season, opened with an 80 (after two birdies, eight bogeys and a double-bogey seven), four less than Shevchenko, who is playing in the event as an amateur.

The former Ukraine international striker’s debut on the Challenge Tour did not go as planned after he finished with a 12-over-par score.

The brief highlight for the 36-year-old, who retired from football after playing at Euro 2012, was a birdie on the 132-yard second.

However, with eight bogeys to the turn the two-handicapper went out in 43 and although his back nine began promisingly with four pars in five holes, following a double-bogey five and dropped shots at two other holes, he signed for an 84.

The leading Scot was Grantown-on-Spey’s Duncan Stewart, who is tied for fifth place after shooting a four-under-par 68.

Frenchman Riu, playing in the same group as Shevchenko, shot a course record eight- under-par 64 for a two-shot lead after the first day of the  inaugural Superior Cup.

Sihwan Kim of Korea is two shots behind Riu, with Phillip Archer of England and Dane Lucas Bjerregaard both a shot further back on five under par.