It's Gurunath's day

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, DEC. 21. On a day when a talented city amateur-B. Gurunath-upstaged the visiting pros with a sizzling four-under 68, the organisers of the inaugural TNGF open golf tournament at the Cosmopolitan Club course could not have hoped for a more dramatic turn of events ahead of the climactic fourth round on Friday.

Even as the consistent Shiv Prakash, the leading prize money winner this season, captured the lead (210) following a third round 71, four other players found themselves within striking distance of the leader.

Rohtas Singh, the first round leader, fired a two- under 70 for an aggregate of 211, and three players-Basad Ali, Vishal Singh and Rafiq Ali-are on 212, two strokes behind Shiv Prakash.

But, for all the focus on the main tournament-the Rs. 7.5 lakh pro event-the day truly belonged to an amateur, B. Gurunath. This is not a sport where amateur records are easily accessible. But long-time observers of the game in this city are almost certain that no amateur has ever turned in a more impressive card on this course in a pro Tour event.

Gurunath hit all 18 greens on regulation and but for three 3- putts-on the first, fifth and 17th holes-he might well have done even better on a day when he shot seven birdies.

``I have gotten fitter over the last few months and this has certainly helped,'' said Gurunath. ``Today the pin positions were rather difficult but I played well.''

Shiv Prakash, meanwhile, steered well clear of drama as he played a steady round to go into the lead. He had two birdies during the day and might have checked in an even better card if not for the bogey on the 17th where we went into the bunker and then muffed a chip-putt.

``There are a lot of good players right behind me and I have to play very well to win,'' said Shiv Prakash.

Rohtas Singh, a man who has won over 100 tournaments in more than a quarter of a century on the Tour, was pleased with himself after his 70. He started the round in style with successive birdies and then added two more on the ninth and the 16th while the two bogeys came on the eighth and the 14th.

``I wanted an under-par round today and I got it. Tomorrow, I will go for broke,'' said the charming veteran from Delhi.

The best card of the day belonged to Balbir Verma, a five-under 67 which included five birdies and an eagle on the second, punctuated by two bogeys.

Gurunath, meanwhile, comfortably leads the amateur field at 220. Arun Murugappan is second on 233.

Leading pro scores: Shiv Prakash: 71,68,71-210; Rohtas Singh: 68- 73-70-211; Basad Ali: 72,72,68-121; Vishal Singh 71,72,69-212; Rafiq Ali 70,68,74-212; Balbir Verma: 74,73,67-214; Ranjit Singh: 75,71,68-214; Sanjay Kumar: 74,69,71-214; Harmeet Kahlon: 71,71,73-215; SSP Chowrasia: 69,74,73-216.

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