The Hindu : Sport : Slender lead for Indian side

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 11, 2005

Sport

Sport

Slender lead for Indian side

D. Ravi Shankar

BANGALORE: The Indian team of golfers turning out for the Ravi Kirloskar Trophy salvaged much pride to end the second day of the three-day tournament with a slender one-point lead. The competition was once again intense and when the veteran Ashok Malik sank his putt on the 18th hole, the mood in the Indian camp soared high. The overall score at the end of the penultimate day stood at 6-1/2 to 5-1/2 in favour of India. The final day's competition is a singles and 12 points are at stake on the final day. The tournament is surely heading for a grandstand finish. The pressure on the players is so great, especially since every match in the various sections is being followed with tremendous interest.

The amateurs in the field teed of first on the second day with Manav Das and Chiragh Kumar soon taking a slender lead over Muhammad A. Hai and Muhammed Safdar Khan. Hai and Safdar were three down with five holes to go when the amazing turnaround happened. A birdie on the 14th by Muhammed Hai whittled the lead and on the 16th hole Chiragh seemed to have closed the match with a 30 ft putt for birdie. Muhammed Safdar Khan needed to putt from eight feet to get a birdie and stay in the match. The Pakistani held his nerve and ensured the hole was halved and the match continued. Hai and Safdar crafted a creditable draw with successive birdies in the 17th and 18th holes.

The results: Amateurs: Manav Das & Chiragh Kumar (Ind) drew with Muhammed Hai & Muhammed Safdar Khan (Pak) (1/2- 1/2); Vaqas Ahmed & Tariq Mahmood (Pak) bt Simarjeet Singh & Gaganjeet Verma (1 up).

40+ Section: David D'Souza & Amit Luthra (Ind) bt Amer Mahmood & Sardar Khan (Pak) (5&4); Ranjit Atwal & Ankur Prakash (Ind) drew with Mohammed Saigol &Imran Zubai (Pak) (1/2- 1/2)

50+ section: Vijay Kumar & Vikramjit Singh (Ind) bt Imran Ahmed & Javed Khan (Pak) (5&4); Ashok Malik & Gangesh Khaitan (Ind) bt Taimur Hassan & Syed Bokhari (Pak) (1up).

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