The Hindu : Sport / Golf : Ashok Kumar sizzles with eight birdies

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Wednesday, Apr 05, 2006

Sport

Sport - Golf

Ashok Kumar sizzles with eight birdies

Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI: Ashok Kumar posted a bogey-free round and studded it with eight birdies to grab the opening day lead by two strokes in the Rs. 10 lakh DDA Open golf tournament at the Qutab Golf Club course here on Tuesday.

The par-70 open course had the pros enjoying long drives as the still-infant fairways provided modest challenge to the seasoned players. Last year, Mukesh Kumar went on a rampage when he had 11-under 59 for the third day and eventually ended up at the Indian record of 30-under for the tournament.

Ashok charted the same path on a well-maintained public course to card eight-under 62 to be two strokes ahead of Digvijay Singh and the defending champion Mukesh Kumar. Ashok opened with a birdie for the par-4 first hole and then had five more before he took the turn at six-under.

On the home stretch, Ashok managed just two birdies, on the par-5 12th and the par-4 15th, but that was enough for him to end the day on a high note. On a windy but hot day, 36 players carded sub-par rounds.

"Records are not in my mind as of now. My priority is to increase the lead and win the tournament by a good margin," said Ashok, who is currently at number four on the Amby Valley PGAI Order of Merit.

"I hit the ball very straight and though the wind had some effect, I was able to keep my focus," he said.

Within striking range

Mukesh Kumar was within striking range. Last year, he shot 64 in the first two rounds and was three strokes behind Rafick Ali before he sped ahead with 59. On Tuesday, Mukesh was well on course to join Ashok at the top, but after having dunked six birdies, he faulted on the par-4 15th, this being the lone bogey of the round. He recovered with a birdie on the 17th hole.

Seasoned Vijay Kumar and young C. Muniyappa were tied at joint fourth position after posting rounds of 65.

The scores: Ashok Kumar 62, Digvijay Singh and Mukesh Kumar 64, C. Muniyappa and Vijay Kumar 65, S. Madaiah, Sheeraz Kalra and Mohammed Salim 66, Rafick Ali, A.S. Lehal, Vishal Singh, Dinesh Kumar, Ranjit Singh, Roop Singh, Sanjay Kumar, Vikrant Chopra, Vivek Bhandari, R. Srinivas, Rahul Ganapathy and Shamim Khan 67.

Amateurs: Aditya Singh and Chirag Kumar 69, Tarun Ghogale 72, Parminder Singh and Manav Jaini 73.

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