Mukesh forges ahead
in Servo Masters

Defending champion Mukesh Kumar began his campaign in style, on a rainy opening day, with a superb four-under 68 in the Rs 850,000 SERVO Masters 2002, at the picturesque Digboi Club Golf Links on Wednesday.

The Mhow-based player, currently the Money List leader on the Hero Honda Indian Golf Tour and winner of four of his last five events, enjoyed a one-stroke lead over Patna's Mohammed Islam, Delhi's Shamim Khan and Digvijay Singh of Meerut, who were tied for the second place at three-under 69. The unheralded Shankar Das of Kolkata shot a two-under 70 to be tied for the fifth place.

The 36-year-old Mukesh committed only one mistake, which was on the par-4 sixth. He hit a great driver and was just 50 yards from the green, but duffed his second shot and missed his chip-putt for a bogey.

Other than that, the thrice 'Champion Golfer of the Year' cruised through with birdies on the third, seventh and ninth on the front nine before signing off with two consecutive birdies on the 17th and 18th. But it was not the birdies that Mukesh would remember. Instead, it was his recovery shot with a nine-iron on the 10th hole, which he termed as his shot of the day.

"My three-wood tee shot went left inside the trees and making a par from there looked difficult. But I played a great shot from there to about six feet from the green and then went on to par the hole," said Mukesh. "I am extremely happy with my round, though I could have done much better," he added.

The veteran Islam had a disastrous start when he made a bogey on the first hole after landing in the hazard on the left with his tee shot. However, he made amends with birdies on the eighth and ninth, the former with a fine chip-in from 15 feet. The Patna pro had a bad start on his return journey too with a bogey on the 10th and a double bogey on the 13th. However, he made four birdies on the next five holes to submit a card of three-under 69.

Islam could have had an eagle on the par-5 15th after his third shot hit the flagstick and ricocheted. "I am happy with the way I started. I am looking for a top-five finish here," said the 38-year-old pro, who finished the round with just 25 putts.

Shamim Khan, playing for the first time on this par-72 course, also saw some fluctuating fortunes. After bogeying the second hole, the 24-year-old made a birdie on the very next hole before completing a hat-trick of birdies on the seventh, eighth and ninth. He sunk two more on 12th and 18th, the latter a 20-footer. In between he went one-over on the 10th and 15th.

Winner of two titles this season, Digvijay made a bogey on his second hole but sank four birdies thereafter and missed at least six birdie opportunities.

"I am lucky to score 69 under these conditions," said the 30-year-old pro on a day when it drizzled throughout the round.

Meanwhile, 20-year-old Das played an impressive round of 70 which had six birdies. Das was three under after the first nine with a lone bogey on the second. However, bogeys on the 10th, 15th and 16th overshadowed all the good work he had done.

SCORES (after 18 holes): 68 _ Mukesh Kumar; 69 _ Digvijay Singh, Shamim Khan, Mohammed Islam; 70 _ Shankar Das; 71 _ Yusuf Ali, Gurki Shergill, Ashok Kumar, Basad Ali; 72 _ DS Raghuvanshi, Rajiv Kumar, Mohammed Salim, Feroz Ali, Ranjit Singh, Sheeraz Kalra, Rafiq Ali; Amateurs: 78 _ Ajay Barua; 85 _ Utpal Deka.