Vivek Bhandari leaps into the lead

Delhi professional Vivek Bhandari brushed aside windy conditions to return an astounding six-under 66, which propelled him into the lead at three-under 141 after round two of the Rs 850,000 Cotton City Open golf tournament on Friday.

Shiv Prakash, the only other golfer to bring in a sub-par card breathed dangerously down the leader's neck from a slender one stroke behind. Shiv was placed second at an aggregate of two-under 142. In third spot, three strokes behind Shiv was Calcutta's Yusuf Ali at one-over 145, while Chandigarh's Amrintinder Singh occupied the fourth spot at three-over 147.

The country's number one golfer Mukesh Kumar was placed fifth with a tally of four-over 148 while Calcutta's Rahil Gangjee, Lucknow's Vijay Kumar, Bangalore's C Muniyappa and Chandigarh's Harmeet Kahlon, were tied-sixth with overnight top ranked pro Mohd. Islam of Patna at five-over 149.

Overnight leader Vignesh Ranga Rao returned an 11-over 83 on Friday to slip to the 14th position.

The cut was applied at 14-over 158 with 58 pros making it to the money-making rounds. Among the leading golfers who missed the cut were twice Indian Open winner Ali Sher and BPGC Open 2000 winner Digvijay Singh.

Vivek Bhandari more than made up for his three-over start to the tournament with a six-under 66 on Friday.

A fist tee starter, Bhandari played his front-nine to one-under courtesy a birdie on the 5th. Starting his return journey with a birdie, the second of his round. Vivek went on to eagle the following hole, the par-4th 11th. Two more birdies on the 13th and 17th studded his day's card. He tallied 27 putts on Friday compared to his aggregate of 32 on day-one.

Shiv Prakash is a dangerous golfer when he is in form. He returned a round of four-under 68 including birdies on the 12th and 14th and a bogey on the 16th on his front nine. After making the turn, the portly golfer birdied the 3rd with a lone bogey on the 4th squatting uncomfortably amidst three more birdies on the 5th, 7th and 9th. He returned 20 feet or longer putts on the 12th, 14th and 7th. Crediting his tally of 25 putts to his good judgement of the line of putt, Shiv signed off in style announcing his intention to go for a win.

Scores (after 36 holes): 141-Vivek Bhandari (75, 76), 142-Shiv Prakash (74, 68), 145-Yusuf Ali (73, 72), 147-Amritinder Singh (73, 74), 148-Mukesh Kumar (74, 74), 149-Rahil Gangjee (77, 72), Vijay Kumar (76, 73), C Muniyappa (75, 74), Harmeet Kahlon (74, 75), Mohd. Islam (72, 77), 150-S.S.P. Chowrasia (74, 76), 151-Amit Dube (78, 73), Basad Ali (75, 76).

Amateurs: 152-Vignesh Ranga Rao (69, 83); 156-N Maheshwaran (80, 76).