Digvijay, Mukesh lead in ColorPlus Open

Digvijay Singh shot a superb five-under 67 to share the opening day's honours with Mukesh Kumar in the Rs 600,000 ColorPlus Open, being played at the par-72, Cosmo-TNGF Golf Course in Chennai, on Tuesday.

The tournament is the fourth leg of the 2002-03 season's Hero Honda Golf Tour and boasts of a field of 86 professionals and 13 amateurs.

Chandigarh's Rajiv Kumar, promising Delhi golfer Shamim Khan and veteran Shiv Prakash were tied for the third spot at three-under 69 apiece.

Ashok Kumar, India's top-ranked amateur who turned professional last season shot a two-under 70 to tie for the sixth position with fellow-Delhi golfer, Zai Kipgen, Kolkata's Rafiq Ali, Chandigarh's Ranjit Singh and Pune's Sachin Nigade.

Vijay Kumar, winner of back-to-back events, this season, including the Hero Honda Open South and the TNGF Open, shot a level-par 72 to tie 23rd on a day when as many as 22 golfers broke par.

Digvijay, who started the season in grand style with a win at the Royal Springs Open 2002, in Srinagar, was a picture of confidence today. Starting the day with a birdie, Digvijay went on to birdie the sixth before eagling the seventh. Entering his return journey at four-under, Digvijay proceeded to essay birdies on the 11th and 15th before a missed par putt, all of two inches short saw him drop his first shot of the day on the 18th.

"I am not happy with the way I finished. I missed easy birdie putts on the 16th and 17th and then a simple par-putt on the 18th. Apart from that I had an easy round. The conditions are good over here and I am really enjoying my game," said the second-ranked golfer on the Hero Honda Golf Tour's Order of Merit.

Thrice 'Champion Golfer of the Year' award winner, Mukesh Kumar, began his quest for his first title of the season in scintillating fashion. The Pro from Mhow shot birdies on the 11th and 16th holes after teeing off from the tenth. A bogey on the 17th saw him enter his back-nine at one-under. Thereafter, Mukesh caught fire to card birdies on the first, second, seventh and ninth.

"I am happy with my game, both my hitting and putting were good. It is just the first day but I have already set my eyes on the title," said a confident Mukesh.

In the amateur section, TNGF Open winner Sandeep Syal led with a score of one-under 71.

SCORES (after 18 holes): 67_Digvijay Singh, Mukesh Kumar; 69_Rajiv Kumar, Shiv Prakash, Shamim Khan; 70_Ashok Kumar, Rafiq Ali, Sachin Nigade, Zai Kipgen; Ranjit Singh; 71_Akbar Ali, Ali Sher, Bhoop Singh, C Kumar, Feroz Ali, Indrajit Bhalotia, Minky Barbora, Mohammed Islam, R Nandakumar, Sanjay Kumar, Uttam Singh Mundy Amateurs: 71_Sandeep Syal; 74_Vignesh Rao; 75_CV Yudhvir, L Selvadurai.