Jaiveer Virk equals course record at Hero Honda Open

Jaiveer Virk stormed into the joint-lead with a course record equaling effort of six-under 65 at the mid-way stage of the Rs 10-lakh Hero Honda Golf Open – Pune 2002 being played at the par-71, Poona Club Golf (Ltd.).

Virk matched local star Amish Jaitha’s effort, set at the Flexican Invitational Cup in 1999. Defending champion Feroz Ali, was the other leader. The duo tallied five-under 137.

Kolkata’s SSP Chowrasia sat threateningly two strokes behind the leaders at three-under 139, while Mukesh Kumar (Mhow) was placed one stroke behind Chowrasia at two-under 140. Sanjay Kumar (Lucknow) and overnight joint leader Ali Sher (Delhi) were tied for the fifth spot at one-under 141. Ali Sher played to one-over 72 today. Arjun Singh at seventh position tallied level-par 142.

The cut was applied at eight-over 150 with 57 professionals making the grade. Among the leading golfers who missed the cut was Noida’s Amit Dube.

Jaiveer Virk is one of Indian golf’s finds of the new millennium. This slightly built golfer who turned pro in 1999, has truly come of age this season. His effort at the Sher-e-Kashmir Open, Srinagar, where he finished tied-third along with Jyoti Randhawa first propelled him into the limelight.

Thereafter he recorded one more top-ten finish in the form of a tied-eighth effort at the HT-Pro Golf Lucknow. He currently occupies the 23rd position on the Money list with earnings of Rs 1,82,243. "This season has been a memorable one. The performance at the Sher-e-Kashmir Open gave me a lot of confidence.

Surprisingly, despite finishing third there, I made an adjustment in my swing, which I felt was necessary. Thereafter I have been hitting the ball long and straight," said the 22-year old Delhi Golf Club pro.

"I changed my approach towards my game at the start of this tournament. After shooting an eight-over in the practice round, I decided I would concentrate less on the mechanics of golf and play more ‘target golf’, that is just take aim and go for the target," he said.

This approach paid off today with Virk leaving himself with very short putts to make. His round of 65 was bogey free and included birdies on the 4th, 5th, 7th and 9th on his front-nine and 10th and 18th on his return journey.

"I missed an easy two feet birdie putt on the 6th and a five foot eagle putt on the 10th. Else I would have had the course-record all to myself," he said adding that sharing the course record was equally thrilling.

Defending champion Feroz Ali improved on his overnight third-place finish with a well- made four-under 67 today. "I enjoyed my finest moment on this course when I became the ‘Millennium Winner’ at this very event last year," said Feroz Ali.

"Today I gave it my best shot and now that I have earned a place atop the leader board, I will attack the pin in the final two rounds," added the golfer whose driving was a revelation today. Feroz let rip his tee shot to thrice reach the green in one on the 360-yard 5th, the 385-yard 6th and the 383-yard 11th.

The Kolkatan dropped his only shot of the day on the 2nd where he failed to sink a five feet par-putt. Thereafter he birdied the 6th, 10th, 11th, 13th and 14th. "I am thrilled with the way I hit the ball today. Two more rounds like this and the winner’s cheque will be mine," he said.

Nigade cointinues in amateur lead : Sachin Nigade continued to lead the amateurs at three-over 145 while Aditya Kanitkar moved alongside Rajiv Datar into second position at a score of 147.

SCORES (after 36 holes): 137_Jaiveer Virk(72,65), Feroz Ali(70,67); 139_Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia(71,68); 140_Mukesh Kumar(69,71); 141_Sanjay Kumar(71,70), Ali Sher(69,72); 142_Arjun Singh(72,70); 143_Balbir Verma(73,70), Vijay Kumar(70,73) Amateurs: 145_Sachin Nigade(72,73); 147_Aditya Kanitkar(76,71), Rajiv Datar(74,73)

Earlier reports:
Mukesh, Ali Sher jointly lead the Hero Honda Open