Bhalotia, Mukesh Kumar share lead

KOLKATA, NOV. 27. Pre-tournament favourite Mukesh Kumar of Mhow and local hero Indrajit Bhalotia fired five-under-par 65 to jointly lead the HT Pro golf 2001 tournament which began at the par-70 Tollygunge Club course here on Tuesday.

Three strokes behind the leaders were Shiv Prakash of Kanpur and another local golfer Uttam Singh Mundy tied for third place at two-under 68. Veteran Rohtas Singh and youngster Suleman Ali were in joint fifth place at one-under 69. There was a seven- way tie for the seventh place at level-par 70. The group included 1998 Indian Open champion Feroz Ali and twice Player of the Year, Vijay Kumar.

Bhalotia began with bogeys on the fifth and sixth before beginning to get his act together. He two-putted from the edge of the green on the seventh, sank a 30-foot shot on the eighth and got a smart 10-footer to make the turn at one under.

On the back nine, the 29-year-old birdied the 10th, sank another 30-foot birdie putt on the 12th and then made an eagle on the 13th. On the 294-yard, par-4 15th, his drive went over the green and he made a chip-putt for his final birdie of the day. Yet, Bhalotia's knowledge of his own club deserted him as he lost the touch on the last three. He missed a four-foot birdie putt on the 16th, got a bogey on the 17th and parred the eighteenth.

Mukesh too began with a bogey but parred the next five holes. He got his first birdie on the par-5 seventh and then the pro sunk a seven-foot putt on the ninth to go one under on the turn. Mukesh made birdies on the 10th, 11th, 14th and 15th holes to finish the day at five-under.

Among the amateurs, Sanjeev Mehra shot a two-over 72 to lead by six strokes over Ranjit Singh, Anshuman Fogla was third at eight- over 80.

The scores (after 18 holes):

65: Indrajit Bhalotia and Mukesh Kumar; 68: Uttam Singh Mundy and Shiv Prakash; 69: Rohtas Singh and Suleman Ali; 70: Feroz Ali, Rafiq Ali, Vijay Kumar, Sanjay Kumar, Shamim Khan, Rahul Ganapathy and Zai Kipgen; 71: Anil Samantha, Binod Pandey, Gourav Diwan, Jumman, S.S.P. Chowrasia and Md. Islam.

Amateurs: 72: Sanjeev Mehra; 78: Ranjit Singh.

- Our Special Correspondent

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