Peerless Randhawa moves in to top spot at DLF Masters

Gurgaon, May 11 (UNI) Ace pro Jyoti Randhawa came up with a brilliant eight-under 64 round to take the lead with a seven-stroke buffer over the field at the midway stage of the Rs 65 Lakh DLF Masters Golf here today.

Overnight second, Randhawa now aggregates 12-under 132, which puts him well ahead of Gaurav Diwan who carded a four-under 68 today following a 69 in the first 18-holes yesterday to move into the second spot.

Australia's Richard Backwell who carded a two-under 70 was third with six-under 136 in aggregate while overnight leader Ranjit Singh did not have a very satisfactory round and a two-over 74 that saw him slip to tied fourth with SSP Chowrasia and Vijay Kumar with four-under 140.

Youngster Himmat Singh Rai played some consistent golf, carding a 71 after a 70 yesterday and is tied alongside Digvijay Singh, Gaurav Ghei and Mukesh Kumar for seventh place at three-under 141.

Shiv Kapur and R Srinivas were tied 11th at one-under 143.

Randhawa started the day with a bogey on the 10th hole but made no mistakes thereafter as he birdied the 11th , 12th 17th and 18th holes to make the turn at three-under 33. Birdies on the first, third, fifth, sixth and seventh holes resulted in a five-under on his back nine, resulting in an eight-under 64.

However, Randhawa narrowly missed tying the course record -- a 63 which is currently held by Argentina's Rodrigo Cuello -- after he missed a chip and putt for birdie from off the green on the par-five ninth, his last hole for the day.

Scores: 132 Jyoti Randhawa (68,64); 137 Gaurav Diwan (69,68); 138 Richard Backwell (68,70); 140 SSP Chowrasia (71,69), Vijay Kumar (70,70), Ranjit Singh (66,74); 141 Mukesh Kumar (70,71), Himmat Rai (70,71), Digvijay Singh (71,70), Gaurav Ghei (72,69); 143 Shiv Kapur (72,71), R Srinivas (73,70); 144_Ali Sher (73,71), Chiragh Kumar (73,71), Gagnjeet Bhullar (75,69) UNI