Ashok Kumar snatches sole lead in Crompton Greaves golf open

Mumbai, May 4 (UNI) A consistent Ashok Kumar carded a brilliant six-under-par, 64 to grab the lead with a total of nine-under-par, 131, at the halfway stage of the inaugural Rs 70 lakh Crompton Greaves Open, which is currently underway at the par-70 Bombay Presidency Golf Club here today.

Kumar birdied the first, third, sixth and seventh holes to make the turn at four-under-par, 31. A solitary bogey on the par-three tenth hole was the only shot he dropped all day, after he hit a wedge over the green and missed the return chip and putt for par.

However, a birdie on the 12th and an eagle on the par-five 16th hole where he hit a seven-iron second shot to 12-feet and holed the putt, helped him card a 64 in the second round, taking his 36-hole total to nine-under-par, 131.

''I hit the ball very well today but my putting was average,'' said Ashok.

''The back nine played tough today but I have no complaints about my game and am happy with the way things are progressing,'' added the Delhi professional who already has three victories to his credit on the 2006-07 PGTI season.

Overnight leader, Gaganjeet Bhullar remains in the hunt after he carded a one-under-par, 69 to take his total for two rounds to seven-under-par, 133.

Bhullar birdied the first and fourth holes, but dropped shots on the seventh and eighth holes to make the turn at level-par for the day. He dropped another shot on the 12 th but picked up birdies on the par-five 14th and 18th holes to shoot 69.

''My hitting was as good as yesterday, but I missed a lot of putts today, specially for birdie. The course also played a little tougher as some of the pins were tucked in,'' Bhullar said.

Uttam Singh Mundy played consistent golf to card two consecutive rounds of 68 and Yusuf Ali, who carded a four-under-par, 66 in the first round, followed it up with a level-par 70 today. They are currently in third place at four-under-par, 136.

''I could have carded a much better score today as I made a double bogey on the ninth hole, but am happy with my game as I am playing consistently and that is what we professionals strive for,'' Mundy said.

Amardip Sinh Malik and Shamim Khan are a stroke further behind, while Australian Richard Backwell, Arjun Singh and C Muniyappa are at two-under-par, 138.

Seasoned professional Mukesh Kumar did not have a very satisfactory round as he carded a four-over-par 74 after a 65 in the opening round and is currently at one-under-par, 139.

''I have been playing the second round badly for quite some time now and made a couple of three-putts today which did not help,'' he said.

Vijay Kumar, who is tied for 11th place at level-par, 140 along side Md Islam, BG Lalith Kumara, Indrajit Bhalotia, was also not content with his round today.

''I made a lot of putts yesterday but could not hole any for birdie today,'' said Vijay, who made 34 putts during his round today. The cut was applied at eight-over-par, 148 the completion of 36-holes today and 52 professionals made the cut. Shivas Nath currently leads in the amateur category after he carded two consecutive rounds of 75 each.

Scores (after 36-HOLES): 131-Ashok Kumar (67,66); 133-Gaganjeet Bhullar (64,69); 136-Yusuf Ali (66,70), Uttam Singh Mundy (68,68); 137-Amardip Sinh Malik (70,67), Shamim Khan (70,67); 138-Richard Blackwell (70,68), Arjun Singh (70,68), C Muniyappa (69,69); 139-Mukesh Kumar (65,74); 140-Md. Islam (71,69), BG Lalith Kumara (70,70); Indrajit Bhalotia (70,70), Vijay Kumar (64,76).

UNI