Rookie Ashok Kumar, the most exciting prospect on the Hero Honda Golf Tour, put himself in a position to go for his maiden professional title courtesy a third-round three-under 69 at the Noida Open 2002 being played at the par-72 Noida Golf Course in Noida, on Friday.

Ashok, who tallies eight-under 208 for the tournament, has set up an exciting final-round battle with the formidable duo of Vijay Kumar and Uttam Singh Mundy, who are just one and two strokes behind.

Lucknow's Vijay Kumar along with city-mate Sheeraz Kalra, brought in the day's best card of five-under 67.

Vijay, in second spot at seven-under 209, would have slid one position lower but for overnight leader Uttam Singh
Mundy's unfortunate double-bogey on the 16th which pushed the Kolkata golfer to third spot at six-under 210.

Ashok has had a dream rookie season. Runner-up finishes at the Hyundai-MGC Open, Chennai, and last week's Tata Steel Open, Jamshedpur, topped up with three third place finishes, a fourth position on the Money List and earnings of Rs 5,73,000 is a record even a seasoned pro would be proud of.

The 21-year old started the day one stroke behind Mundy. He has been talking about controlling his aggressive streak to return more consistent performances on the pro circuit.  Today, he did just that. The first nine holes yielded just one birdie on the seventh. With Mundy still in the lead, Ashok went about his task with surgeon-like precision to birdie the 12th, 15th and 18th with just a solitary blot on his scorecard in the form of a bogey on the 11th.

This was also the third day in succession that Ashok birdied the final hole of his round.

 "I sank long putts on all three days on my closing holes.  Today it was a 25 feet putt on the 18th," said Ashok.

"There is no pressure on me.  I have watched the way Mukesh Kumar plans his round on the final day and that is the method I will follow.  Play for par and the birdies will come on their own," he concluded.

Vijay, by his own admission, is a much-improved player ever since he ventured onto the Asian PGA Tour.  Most of this change is mental.

 "I used to lose my cool and get frustrated earlier but after playing on the Asian circuit I have learnt to play it cool. Mistakes on that Tour prove to be extremely costly and by staying calm I have also realized that I can get back in control," said the 34-year old Vijay. 

It will be this new-look Vijay who will pose the biggest threat to Ashok's title aspirations.

Vijay's round of 67 started with two excellent approach shots that brought him birdies on his opening holes. Poor chipping on the third and seventh cost him bogeys but thereafter there were no more errors.  Vijay went on to eagle the eighth by holing out from the bunker, birdied the next hole and went on to card two more birdies on the tenth and 17th.

"My short game was really good today, especially my putting," said the Lucknow pro, who tallied 27 putts for his round.

"I will play my natural game tomorrow.  One stroke is nothing and I certainly stand a chance to win," he added.

Jasjeet leads amateur field:  GAIL employee Jasjeet Singh shot a third-round three-over 75 to jump into the amateur lead.  Jasjeet's tournament tally stands at 11-over 227, one stroke ahead of second placed Gagan Verma.

Scores (after 54 holes): 208 _ Ashok Kumar (69,70,69); 209 _ Vijay Kumar (74,68,67); 210 _ Uttam Mundy (72,66,72); 213 _ Mukesh Kumar (73,69,71), Vivek Bhandari (69,73,71), Shamim Khan (69,72,72); 215 _ Sheeraz Kalra (73,75,67), SSP Chowrasia (72,72,71); 216 _ S Murthy (75,71,70), Zai Kipgen (71,74,71); 217 _ Sanjay Kumar (70,72,75).

Amateurs: 227 _ Jasjeet Singh (78,74,75); 228 _ Gagan Verma (75,78,75); 232 _ Simarjeet Singh (75,75,82).