Mukesh cruises towards
Hyundai Open title
Mukesh Kumar returned his second successive score of 65 to
open up a five-stroke lead on day three of the Rs 600,000 Hyundai Open 2002,
being played at the par-70, Madras Gymkhana Club course, in Chennai, on Friday.
Mukesh's tournament tally stands at 11-under 199 as the sixth leg of the
Hero Honda Golf Tour's 2002-03 season heads into its closing stage.
Delhi's Ashok Kumar, who was tied with Mukesh and another Delhiite, Rohtas
Singh, for the lead yesterday, slipped to second position at six-under 204,
while Rohtas was placed third at three-under 207.
One of the Tour's most improved golfers, Bangalore's S Madaiah was tied fourth with Kolkata's Yusuf
Ali on a tally of 208 while Meerut's Digvijay Singh, winner of two
tournaments this season, was tied-sixth with another Bangalorean R Murthy at
level-par 210.
Mukesh, who was crowned `The Hindu Open' champion last week, continued from
where he left off yesterday. Starting his round with a birdie, he went
on to post five more birdies with a lone bogey on the eighth, marring what
would have been an error free round. The birdie on the third was his best,
coming as it did from the right green-side bunker where his second shot
placed him.
The birdie on the ninth, an eight-feet downhill effort was
another memorable shot. Mukesh's other birdies came on the fourth, 12th and
16th.
"The bogey was a bit disappointing," said Mukesh, who missed a four
feet par putt on the eighth. "I have a comfortable lead. However, golf is
a strange game. I will just go out and give it my best shot tomorrow,"
concluded the thrice 'Mahindra Champion Golfer of the Year' award winner.
Ashok Kumar will be faced with an uphill task in his quest for his maiden
career title tomorrow. Even as Mukesh was setting the course on fire, the
Delhi Golf Club pro was struggling to break par all day. On his front-nine,
back-to-back bogeys on the fifth and sixth were undone by birdies on the
seventh and ninth. Thereafter, Ashok birdied the 12th but dropped another
shot on the 17th.
"It was an ordinary round. I need to produce something
special if I am to upset Mukesh tomorrow," said the 20-year old.
Rohtas Singh, meanwhile, was a shadow of the player who shot a 66 yesterday.
The veteran golfer dropped shots on the sixth, seventh, 12th and 14th, with
a lone birdie adorning his card on the 11th.
"It was a disappointing
round," was all Rohtas would say.
Yudhvir grabs amateur lead: CV Yudhvir, with five-over 215, was the leading
amateur, followed by D Nagaraj at 223.
Top scores: (after 54 holes): 199 _ Mukesh Kumar (69,65,65), 204 _ Ashok
Kumar (69,65,70), 207 _ Rohtas Singh (68,66,73); 208 _ S Madaiah (70,71,67),
Yusuf Ali (70,68,70); 210 _ Digvijay Singh (71,73,66), R Murthy (72,69,69);
211 _ SSP Chowrasia (70,72,69), Sheeraz Kalra (69,69,73), Feroz Ali
(69,68,74); 212_Shiv Prakash(71,71,70), Chini Ali(71,70,71), Nabin
Mondal(70,70,72), Monish Bindra(68,69,75).
Amateurs: 215 _ CV Yudhvir
(73,70,72); 223 _ D Nagaraj (77,72,74); 226 _ L Selvadurai (80,72,74)
Yesterday's report
Three-way tie for lead
