Date:30/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/30/stories/2008083056951700.htm

Sport - Golf

Mukesh firmly on top

Principal Correspondent

CHENNAI: Mukesh Kumar likens the Madras Gymkhana links to his hometown course, the Army Golf Club, Mhow.

There is not much of a difference between the two except that the greens are relatively better there, he observes.

“The fairways and the twist and jumps of the ball takes on the ground are more or less similar to Mhow,” said Mukesh.

Friday, the penultimate day of the Tamil Nadu Open golf championship here, saw Mukesh produce a blazing performance on his “second home” to take a big eight-stroke lead. With a card of six under 64 on the third day for a total of 16-under 194, Mukesh is well and truly on course for the title.

Muniyappa moves up

Languishing in tied 27th place on the opening day, C. Muniyappa, the pro from Bangalore, has quietly moved up the ladder.

The 31-year-old carded a 67 to take his tally to 202 to finish the day in tied second with Shankar Das. The 25-year-old from Kolkata came up with a 66.

Mukesh had an impressive front nine with a birdie in the first, third, fourth and eighth hole. His back nine, though not as good, was consistent. He had birdies on the 12th and 14th and no bogey in the round.

“My putting has been very good in the last two days. That’ll be the key to my victory on Saturday,” said Mukesh.

Rafick Ali Mollah, who was second overnight, slipped to end up in fourth position after a par-round on Friday.

The scores (after 54 holes): 194: Mukesh Kumar (Mhow) (67, 63, 64); 202: C. Muniyappa (Bangalore) (70, 65, 67); Shankar Das (Kolkata) (67, 69, 66), 203: Sanjay Kumar (Lucknow) (70, 68, 65), Vijay Kumar (Lucknow) (69, 67, 67), Rafick Ali Mollah (Kolkata) (65, 68, 70); 204: Yusuf Ali (Kolkata) (70, 69, 65); 205: Ranjit Singh (Chandigarh) (68, 68, 69); 206: Vikrant Chopra (Delhi) (66, 73, 67).