Mukesh Kumar opens up massive lead
Mukesh Kumar reaffirmed his status as the number one
golfer on the Hero Honda Indian Golf Tour when he opened up a massive
ten-stroke lead over the field at the end of the penultimate day's play in the Rs One million WWICS Forest Hill Golf Open, being played at the Forest Hill
Golf & Country Club, in Chandigarh, on Friday.
As the tough par-72 Forest Hill Golf & Country Club course bared its fangs,
Mukesh submitted one of only four sub-par cards on the day -- a brilliant
bogey-free four-under 68 given the conditions -- and aggregated 10-under 206
after three days.
Ashok Kumar of Delhi, who turned pro this year, also shot
a 68 and jumped up to tied second place at even-par 216 along with
Chandigarh's Amritinder Singh, who returned his third successive score of
level-par 72.
Digvijay Singh of Meerut was fourth at 217 following a round of 74. Vijay
Kumar, who led following a six-under 66 on day one, fell back to tied fifth
place alongside Shamim Khan of Delhi at three-over 219 after a disastrous
round of eight-over 80.
There was tremendous pressure on Mukesh in the morning, what with Vijay
Kumar lurking just one stroke behind. However, early errors by the Lucknow
golfer gave him ample breathing space.
"This is not the kind of course where
anything can be taken for granted. I was a little apprehensive in the
morning but Vijay's mistakes took the pressure off," said the 36-year-old
Mhow golfer who will look forward to his fourth title in five events on the
Hero Honda Golf Tour.
"My game plan was to par every hole and take the birdies as bonus," said
Mukesh, currently leading the Money List on the Tour.
Four birdies was what
he got when he deviated from par - on the fourth, ninth, 12th and 16th
holes.
Ashok, described by one and all as one of the promising emerging talents on
the Tour, was even par after 11 holes with a birdie on the fourth and a
bogey on the 11th. However, he caught fire thereafter and made birdies on
the 12th, 13th, 15th and 16th to return a four-under 68.
"I am very
satisfied with the way I played today. I putted really well. On this kind of
a course, anything can happen and hence despite Mukesh's lead, I am
optimistic about my chances," said the youngster.
Local hero Amritinder played excellent golf and could have been in a much
better position if not for a very ordinary day on the greens. He missed as
many as five short putts for birdies in a round that had three birdies and
as many bogies.
"The putts on the ninth, 10th and 15th were very makeable.
Mukesh is pretty far ahead and unless he does something stupid, he should
not have much to worry about," said the genial sardar.
Scores (after 54 holes): 206 _ Mukesh Kumar (68,70,68); 216 _ Ashok Kumar
(72,76,68), Amritinder Singh (72,72,72); 217 _ Digvijay Singh (71,72,74);
219 _ Shamim Khan (73,72,74), Vijay Kumar (66,73,80); 221 _ Sanjay Kumar
(78,73,70); 222 _ Shiv Prakash (74,75,73); 223 _ Vinod Kumar (70,82,71),
Pappan (76,70,77); 225 _ Asgar Ali (73,77,75), Rahil Gangjee (71,79,75); 226
_ Yusuf Ali (77,74,75), Harmeet Kahlon (81,68,77), Steve Kent (75,74,77),
Monish Bindra (74,75,77).
Yesterday's report
Mukesh upstages Vijay to snatch lead
