Divijay, Feroz in joint lead

Digvijay Singh and Feroz Ali played contrasting rounds to share the lead at the end of the second day's proceedings in the Rs 850,000 Cotton City Open, the second stop of the Hero Honda Indian Golf Tour 2002-03 season, at the Coimbatore Golf Club Course on Thursday.

While Digvijay carded a one-under 71, the Kolkata pro made two-over par 74 to be tied at level par 144.

Lucknow pros Sheeraz Kalra and Vijay Kumar were tied for the third place on 145 while Bangalore lad S Madaiah shot a one-over 73 for second successive day for a two-day total of two-over 146 to be in the sole fifth position. As  many as 50 professionals and one amateur made the cut which was applied at 14-over 158.

Overnight leader Amritinder Singh fell into the trap on the eighth hole on the second consecutive day to finish the hole with a triple bogey for a total of eight-over 80. The Chandigarh pro finished the day in the seventh position.

Feroz Ali , who had a forgettable start when he went over on the par-4 opening hole after he hit his tee-shot in the trees on the right. He made two more consecutive bogeys on third and fourth while three putted the seventh for his fourth bogey. The former Indian Open Champion saved some pride with birdies on the par-5 fifth and 13th.

"I am playing well. It is just that I am missing some small putts. It is too windy to concentrate,"said Feroz after the round.

Meanwhile Digvijay Singh fired two birdies and an eagle which came on the par-5 ninth. The 31-year-old who four-putted the second for a double, added one more bogey on the 17th when he failed to make up and down from left of  the fairway.

Sheeraz Kalra squandered away a bright start after he was three-under after 10 holes bogeying the 16th and 17th to finish one-under 71.

However, the best round of the day was submitted by Rafiq Ali who carded two-under 70 and was sixth. The Kolkata pro, after a par on the 10th, his beginning hole, made a birdie on the next with a good drive that left him with just a sand-wedge to work on. The next one came on the par-5, dog-leg 13th. Instead of cutting across to the adjacent 17th, as many professionals normally follow the routine, Rafiq drove straight and with a 7-iron shot was about 20 feet from the pin. Missing an eagle by a whisker, he had to settle for a birdie.

As the winds picked up, the playing conditions became tough. However, Rafiq was unperturbed as he began his return journey with a birdie. The pick of the birdies was on the par-5 fifth where he hit his tee shot into a tree on the fairway and had to roll out before chipping to about three feet and made a birdie. In between, Rafiq had a bogey each on the second and sixth, three-putting the latter.

"I am happy with my round, especially after a bout of cough and cold. I need to work on my putting," said Rafiq who was suffering from fever when he began the tournament.

Top scores (after 36 holes): 144_Digvijay Singh (73,71), Feroz Ali (70,74); 145_Sheeraz Kalra (74,71), Vijay Kumar (73,71); 146_S Madaiah (73,73); 148_Rafiq Ali (78,70); 149_Amritinder Singh (69,80), Shiv Prakash (72,77); 150_C Muniyappa (73,77), Rajesh Chaudhary (73,77), Akbar Ali (77,73).

Amateurs: 152_Vignesh Rangarao (75,77); 160_ R Gopinath (78,82).