Mukesh Kumar, Ranjit Singh share lead

Mukesh Kumar caught fire on the last three holes to catch up with Ranjit Singh in the lead, as the twosome tied at seven-under 209 on the penultimate day of the Rs 7-lakh GAIL co-sponsored, ONGC-NGC Open Championship 2000, the tenth leg of the 2000-2001 season of the Wills Sport Golf Tour, being played on at the par-72, 6,978-yard Noida golf course.

Breathing dangerously down the leaders' necks just one stroke behind at a tally of six-under 210 was Vijay Kumar. Shiv Prakash was placed fourth at four-under 212, while Ali Sher occupied the fifth spot at three-under 213.

Mukesh Kumar overcame a lukewarm front nine to card a three-under 69 thereby handing himself a decent perch to go for the kill on the morrow. The top-ranked golfer on the ‘99-2000 season had a discouraging start to his round. On the 1st, a well placed approach shot left him with a 15 feet eagle putt to sink. Mukesh three-putted to par the hole. The Mhow-based golfer played his front nine to level-par with a bogey on the 4th and a birdie on the 6th highlighting his outward journey card.

A nightmare start to his return journey, with bogeys on the 10th and 11th gave not a hint to what was to follow. A pared 11th hole later, Mukesh witnessed a sudden return to form with a chipped in birdie on the 12th preceding birdies on the 14th and 16th the outcome of a 20 feet putt, with the icing on the cake coming in the form of an eagle on the 17th.

"The birdie on the 12th restored my confidence and the one on the 16tth convinced me that nothing could go wrong from then on," said Mukesh "My form, confidence and feel are all back and I know I will definitely win tomorrow," he added.

Ranjit Singh on Saturday had a lesson in why experience scores over youth. The Chandigarh-based golfer played to one-under 71 today. He had birdies on the 3rd and 5th and a dropped shot on the 8th entering his back-nine at one-under. At this stage Ranjit enjoyed a four-stroke lead over the field. Over clubbing cost him a stroke on the 11th but the golfer more than made up with back-to-back birdies on the 14th and 15th.

Just when it looked like the slim built golfer would finish the day with a three to four stroke lead, came Mukesh Kumar's late charge. To add to his woes, Ranjit's tee shot on the 18th, handed him bad lie, which in combination with a poor chip shot saw him lose a stroke and forfeit the opportunity of enjoying the sole lead.

"I learnt a bit about playing under pressure today and think I have benefited from it. I will go for a win tomorrow," said Ranjit.

Vijay Kumar has seldom let anybody rest easy. A third-day’s score of three-under 69 has given the stocky Lucknow golfer as good a chance of winning as anybody else. Today, Vijay’s round included birdies on the 1st, 8th and 9th, resulting from a 20 feet beauty putt with his only bogey of the day coming on the 3rd, courtesy a duffed shot. Playing his first eight holes on the back-nine to par Vijay finished off in style with a birdie on the 18th.

Shiv Prakash was a disappointed man today. The leader of the current season’s Order of Merit, managed a one-under 71 today with birdies on the 1st, 2nd, 13th, 14th and 17th and bogeys on the 4th, 8th, 10th and 16th.

Ali Sher’s two-under 70 card included birdies on the 4th, 7th, 13th and 10th and bogeys on the 11th and 16th.

Simarjeet continues to lead amateur field: Simarjeet Singh carded a six-over 78 today but continued to lead the amateur field at five-over 221. Sheeraz Kalra and Jasjit Singh at 227 were jointly placed second.

SCORES (after 56 holes): 209_Mukesh Kumar(70,70,69), Ranjit Singh(69,69,71); 210_Vijay Kumar(70,71,69); 212_Shiv Prakash(70,71,71); 213_Ali Sher(71,72,70); 216_Basad Ali(74,73,69), GS Sethi(76,68,72), Gast Ram(70,72,74), Akbar Ali(71,69,76); 218_Vishal Singh(69,76,73), Rohtas Singh(73,70,75); 219_KPS Sekhon(73,75,71), Pappan(72,72,75), Vinod Kumar (D) (72,72,75).

Amateurs: 221_Simarjeet Singh(71,72,78); 227_Sheeraz Kalra ( 73,80,74), Jasjit Singh(75,76,76)