Date:27/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/04/27/stories/2006042704162100.htm

Sport - Golf

Slender lead for Mukesh

Sports Reporter

NOIDA: A day after equalling the course record, Mukesh Kumar found his putts go ing haywire and just about managed to hang on to the lead by one stroke, after the second round in the Rs. 10 lakhs ONGC-Noida Open golf tournament at the Noida Golf course here on Wednesday. Mukesh, who fired 63 on Tuesday, returned one-under 71 to cling on to his lead ahead of S.S.P. Chowrasia.

Mukesh had a two-round aggregate of 10-under 134, while Chowrasia inched closer with the best round of the day at 66. Uttam Singh Mundy was third at 136 going into the money-earning rounds. The cut was applied at 150 and 63 pros and six amateurs made it to the deciding rounds.

Upbeat

Despite the bad round, Mukesh was upbeat. "I know I will win. Today was one of those rounds and I am glad it got over when it didn't really matter," said Mukesh who leads the Amby Valley PGAI Order of Merit with earnings of over Rs. 15 lakhs.

Mukesh opened with a birdie after missing a 10-foot eagle putt. But his putting woes trickled in and he dropped shots on the fifth and sixth holes. He was one-over at the turn, and a 20-footer birdie on the 11th hole brought him back into the game. Another birdie on the 14th made things a little better for Mukesh.

Chowrasia also began with a birdie on the first hole. He improved by birdying the third with a five iron-lob wedge combo. "The chip on the third brought my feel back," said Chowrasia.

Thereafter there was no looking back for the 27-year-old went on to register birdies on the fourth, eagle on the seventh and birdies on the 14th and 15th, before culminating his round with a bogey on the 18th.

Praveen leads

Praveen Kumar returned a card of 70 to grab the lead in the amateur section from Jasjeet Singh. He had a total of 142. The duo of Chirag Kumar and Jasjeet Singh were tied second, one stroke behind the leader.

The scores: Mukesh Kumar (63, 71) 134; S.S.P. Chowrasia (69, 66) 135; Uttam Singh Mundy (66, 70) 136; Naman Dawar (70, 67), Arjun Singh (70, 67) and Ashok Kumar (69, 68) 137; Amardip Sinh Malik (67, 71) 138; Feroz Ali (69, 70) 139; Suleiman Ali (70, 70) and Amritinder Singh (68, 72) 140, Dinesh Kumar (71, 70), Vivek Bhandari (69, 72) and Vijay (68, 73) 141; A.S. Lehal (72, 70), M. Verma (71, 71), Mohammed Nawab (70, 72) and Ali Sher (69, 73) 142.

Amateurs: Praveen Kumar (72, 70) 142; Chirag Kumar (71, 72) and Jasjeet Singh (68, 75) 143.