Baton changes at the top as Mukesh takes over

Mukesh Kumar was back in familiar territory at the top of the leader board, after he carded a brilliant six-under, 64 to take a one stroke l...

Mukesh Kumar was back in familiar territory at the top of the leader board, after he carded a brilliant six-under, 64 to take a one stroke lead with his total of 130, at the halfway stage of the Royal Challenge Grand Prix today.

“I played well and my strong point today was my putting. I made quite a few long putts which helped me to maintain my score,” said a confident Mukesh.

The second leg of the Royal Challenge Grand Prix for the 2002-03 season, being played at the par-70, Tollygunge Golf Course, supports a total purse of eight lakh rupees.

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A hundred professionals led by order of merit leader Mukesh Kumar, and leading professionals Digvijay Singh, Uttam Singh Mundy, Indrajit Bhalotia, Ali Sher and Shiv Prakash are participating in the championship, the second event in the eastern swing of the Hero Honda Golf Tour.

Scoring has been tight so far this week, as numerous players are bunched together at the top of the scoreboard after 36-holes. Rafiq Ali further strengthened his title defense with a four-under, 66 today, taking his total to nine-under, 131 for the tournament.

“I plan to maintain my rhythm over the next two days and I will definitely try to win again to retain the title,” said Rafiq who made six birdies and two bogeys in 18 holes today. Dropping two strokes early in the round, on the fifth where he duffed his pitch shot and as the result of a three-putt on the sixth, Rafiq fought back with birdies on the seventh, eighth, tenth, 11th, 13th and 18th holes.

Reflecting on his round, he added, “I am in good form as I hit the ball close all day.” A further stroke behind, Amritinder Singh is placed third after he carded a 65, to take his overall total to eight-under, 132. Starting with a birdie on the first, followed by another on the seventh he dropped his only shot of the day on the eight before carding a birdie-eagle-birdie finish.

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Local golfer Uttam Singh Mundy and Meerut’s Digvijay Singh are tied at seven-under-par at the halfway stage. Overnight leader Uttam had an unsatisfactory 69, consisting of three birdies and two bogies.

“I missed a lot of putts today, which was evident in my score, but I think the course played easy as the playing conditions were similar to what we experienced yesterday,” he said.