Feroz, Mukesh set up battle royal

The stage is all set for a battle royal between Calcutta's star golfer Feroz Ali and India’s top ranked player Mukesh Kumar as the Rs 600,000 HT Pro Golf 2001 - Calcutta heads into its final round on Friday.

On Thursday, Feroz took the upper hand with a third-round score of four-under 66 to boost his tally to 12-under 198. The Hindustan Times-sponsored tournament, being played at the par-70 Tollygunge Club course, is the first of the Eastern leg of the 2001-02 season’s Hero Honda Golf Tour.

Mukesh Kumar, two-under 68 on Thursday, was four strokes behind but within striking distance of Feroz at second position and a tally of eight-under 202. Calcutta's Indrajit Bhalotia slipped from his overnight second place to third with a tally of seven-under 203 but yet looms large as a threat to the title contenders. Another Calcuttan Uttam Mundy along with Lucknow’s star golfer Vijay Kumar occupied the tied fourth position at 207, while SSP Chowrasia, also from Calcutta, matched Feroz’s effort with a four-under 66 to settle at sixth spot at 208.

Feroz Ali is keen as ever to end his ten-month-long title drought. The ’98 Indian Open winner’s last tournament victory came at the Wills Western Open, Pune, in January 2001. This week has witnessed a welcome return to form for the local pro after an indifferent showing this season.

"I am playing better than ever before and am really confident of carding a win here tomorrow. Additionally the course is playing superbly which will make things that much easier," said Feroz. "I didn’t play under any pressure today. Each time I stand on the tee, I am confident of hitting the center of the fairway. My swing is that good at present," he added.

Feroz’s impending battle with Mukesh seemed to hold no concerns for him.

"We are both professional golfers and know after playing all these years that no man is invincible. You do your part and leave the rest to God. That is how I look at it," he signed off.

Feroz’s round was a balanced one. Birdies on the 2nd, 7th and 8th on his front nine saw him enter his return journey at three-under. Thereafter he birdied the 11th and 13th with a lone bogey on the 16th marring an otherwise picture perfect card.

"My putting was not too satisfactory today," said Feroz who missed easy birdies on the 10th, 12th, 14th and 15th due to his inconsistent form on the greens.

Mukesh Kumar is always a dangerous opponent to have. Going into the final day with an ominous record of nine top-ten finishes in ten appearances this season, Mukesh will rely on his steely nerves to see him through to his third tournament title of the season.

"I am playing well but it is not so much skill but temperament that is going to be on test tomorrow. Feroz is a class player. A four-stroke lead might not be much but I will have to take an early advantage tomorrow. Attacking golf is the only solution," said the current Order of Merit leader.

"On my part, I am determined to win. With two runner-up finishes in the past five tournaments, it is beginning to get a bit irritating missing out on the final hurdle," said the Mhow pro, who won the TNGF Open (Madras) and the Sher-e-Kashmir Open (Srinagar) this season.

Mukesh’s round saw him birdie the 6th and 7th with a dropped shot on the 9th taking him into the back-nine at one-under. Back to back-birdies on the 10th and 11th were preceded by his second bogey on the 18th.

"Putting will be the key tomorrow. I really need to sink some long putts to sharpen my feel on the greens," he said.

Among the amateurs, Sanjeev Mehra took an invincible lead over the rest of the field with a tally of two-over 212. Mehra was aided by a third round one-under 69. Ranjit Singh was placed second at 233.

SCORES (after 54 holes): 198_Feroz Ali(70,62,66); 202_Mukesh Kumar(65,69,68); 203_Indrajit Bhalotia(65,69,69); 207_Uttam Mundy(68,69,70), Vijay Kumar(70,66,71); 208_Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia(71,71,66); 209_Sanjay Kumar(70,72,67), Shiv Prakash(68,70,71); 210_Mohd. Salim(73,71,66), Rohtas Singh(69,70,71), Rafiq Ali(70,68,72); 211_Suleman Ali(69,70,72); 212_Rahil Gangjee(72,72,68), Jumman(71,73,68), Yusuf Ali(73,68,71).

Amateurs: 212_Sanjeev Mehra(72,71,69); 233_Ranjit Singh(78,78,77)