Mukesh Kumar set to
perform a 'trick'
Mukesh Kumar inched towards a hat-trick of titles on the
Hero Honda Golf Tour as he opened up a five-stroke lead going into the final
round, in the Rs 850,000 Cotton City Open, being played at the par-72,
6973-yard Coimbatore Golf Club course.
Mukesh, who played to one-over 73 on Friday, tallies five-under 211 for the tournament.
His arch rival, Kolkata's Feroz Ali is in second position, two
strokes behind, at three-under 213.
Delhi's Rohtas Singh is placed third at one-under 215 while the fourth position is occupied by
Kolkata's Mohd. Salim, who aggregated level-par 216.
'Satisfaction' is not a word that exists in Mukesh Kumar's dictionary. When
the Mhow golfer essayed an average start to the season, despite his
exemplary record over the past three years, there were people willing to
write him off as a spent force. He proved them wrong with a victory at the
Hindu Open in Chennai, which he followed up with another win the following
week at the Hyundai MGC Open at the same city.
The 36-year-old is as intelligent as he is skilled at his profession. If rounds of 68 and 70 helped him dominate the field at the mid-way stage,
he played safe golf to retain his place atop the leader-board on day
three. His round, which began with four straight pars today, received a
boost with when he sank a 15 feet putt to eagle the fifth.
Mukesh, however, lost the advantage with dropped shots on the 10th and 11th. A birdie on the
13th was followed by two more dropped shots on the 14th and 16th.
"It was pretty hot and tough out there so I am not really disappointed with my score
today," said Mukesh. "However, I have a chance to win tomorrow and I am not
going to take it easy," concluded the thrice 'Champion Golfer of the Year'
award winner.
Meanwhile, Feroz Ali just could not get his putting right, especially on the
return journey. Bogeys on his opening hole and the eighth, and birdies on the
fifth and ninth, placed him at level-par on the tenth tee. Despite his
return journey commencing and concluding with birdies, Feroz was set back by
a bogeys on the 11th and 14th, a double bogey on the 16th and another bogey
on the 17th.
"My putting was really bad. It denied me the lead today," said
the 1998 Indian Open winner, who self-admittedly went for broke in his
closing holes.
A keen contest is on the cards in the amateur section with three players, V
Ramnarayan, Joseph Chakola and Deepak Kumar, sharing the lead for an
aggregate of 26-over 242. Ramnarayan shot a four-over 76 to catch up with overnight leader Joseph Chakola who carded a dismal 14-over 86 today.
Scores (after 54 holes): 211_Mukesh Kumar (Mhow) (68, 70, 73);213_Feroz Ali
(Kolkata) (68, 70, 75); 215_Rohtas Singh (Delhi) (72, 70, 73); 216_Mohd
Salim (Kolkata) (71, 69, 76); 218_SSP Chowrasia (Kolkata) (73, 74, 71), Ajay
Gupta (Delhi) (73, 71, 74), Shiv Prakash (Lucknow) (68, 72, 78); 220_Rahil
Gangjee (Kolkata) (70, 81, 69); 221_C Muniyappa (Bangalore) (75, 75, 71),
Bhoop Singh (Lucknow) (72, 72, 77). Amateurs: 242_Joseph Chakola (81, 75,
86), Deepak Kumar (80, 81, 81), V Ramnarayan (84, 82, 76).
Thursday's report
Mukesh Kumar, Feroz Ali in joint lead
