Three-way tie for lead
in Hyundai Open

Rookie golfer Ashok Kumar and star Hero Honda Golf Tour player Mukesh Kumar blasted five-under 65 each to join Rohtas Singh atop the leaderboard even as local hero Loganathan Gopi aced the first hole of his professional career in the second round of the Rs 600,000 Hyundai Open 2002, being played at the par-70, Madras Gymkhana Club course, in Chennai.

The leaders tallied six-under 134. The tournament is the sixth leg of the 2002-03 Hero Honda Golf Tour.

Kolkata's Mohd. Salim was placed fourth two strokes behind the leader at four-under 136, while another Kolkatan, Feroz Ali, was tied for the fifth position with Delhi's Monish Bindra at three-under 137. Overnight-leader Mohd. Islam shot a three-over 73 today, to slip to tied-tenth at level-par 140.

The cut was applied at nine-over 149 with as many as 55 pros and two amateurs making it to the money-making rounds.

Gopi, who belongs to the Cosmo-TNGF course, used his 7-iron, to pitch the ball five feet from the flag on the 196-yard par-3, fourth hole. The ball subsequently bounced into the cup. Gopi's effort brought up the sixth hole-in-one in as many events on the Tour this season and the second of the tournament. Mohd. Islam aced the 17th hole in yesterday's opening round.

Mukesh Kumar, who returned his first win of the season at last week's Hindu Open, did not put one foot wrong on his outward journey and was rewarded with birdies on the third, fifth and eighth. Three-under on the tenth tee, Mueksh went on to birdie the 13th, 14th and 16th, with a bogey on the 15th handing him his day's card of 65.

"I am looking forward to fighting it out with Rohtas and Ashok Kumar on the final two days," said the thrice 'Champion Golfer of the Year' award winner.

Ashok Kumar has long been hailed as the Sachin Tendulkar of Indian golf. Today, he gave another glimpse of his prodigious talent. The 20-year old, started with a birdie on the tenth, before sinking another on the 12th. If bogeys on the 15th and 17th, set him back, Ashok more than made up with a scintillating return journey, where he birdied the second, third, sixth, seventh and eighth.

"My putting was good, especially on back nine. I was not happy with my hitting on the front nine," said the Delhi pro.

Meanwhile Rohtas Singh scorched his front-nine, birdying the first, third, seventh and eighth. A bogey on the 13th was followed by his fifth birdie of the day on the 16th.

"The way I played today, I can't complain," said the veteran campaigner.

Yuduvir leads amateurs: CV Yuduvir led the amateur field at three-over 143 while D Nagaraj was second at 149.

SCORES (after 36 holes): 134 _ Ashok Kumar (69,65), Mukesh Kumar (69,65), Rohtas Singh (68,66); 136 _ Mohammed Salim (69,67); 137 _ Feroz Ali (69,68), Monish Bindra (68,69); 138 _ Yusuf Ali (70,68), Sheeraz Kalra (69,69); 139 _ Rafiq Ali (70,69); 140 _ Basad Ali, (73,67), Nabin Mondal (70,70), Mohammed Islam (67,73); 141_R Murthy(72,69), Chini Ali(71,70), S Madaiah(70,71); 142_Ali Sher(72,70), C Muniyappa(71,71), Shiv Prakash(71,71), Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia(70,72).

Amateurs: 143 _ CV Yudhvir (73,70); 149 _ D Nagaraj (77,72); 152 _ L Selvadurai (80,72)