The stage is set for a pulsating final round as Feroz Ali played a brilliant round of three-under 69 on Independence Day to occupy the top spot on the leaderboard at the end of 54 holes at the Cotton City Open, the second leg of the Hero Honda Indian Golf Tour 2003-04 season, at the Coimbatore Golf Club on Friday.

The Kolkata pro, with a three-day total of three-under 213, was four strokes clear of second placed Vijay Kumar, who submitted a level par card for the second consecutive day.

"Champion 'Golfer of the Year' Mukesh Kumar finally struck form to card the day's best score of four under par 68 and lies in joint third position with in-form Pappan, who fired seven birdies but ended up with a total of 69 for a 54-hole total of four-over 220.

Overnight joint leader Digvijay Singh shot a five-over 77 to be tied for the fifth position along with veteran Shiv Prakash.

Feroz, after a sting of pars, made his first of five birdies on the par-5 fifth which signaled the return of his famed form. With birdies on the ninth and tenth, Feroz was a man possessed. After driving into the fairway bunker on the 11^th, Feroz chipped to 12 feet and sank a downhill putt for a birdie to go three strokes ahead of the field.

The Air Sahara-sponsored pro landed in the trees on the next hole and went for the green from a difficult position. His chip shot hit the mound on the left of the green and went over from where Feroz had to settle for a bogey. However he made amends on his favourite hole -- the par-5 13^th, making yet another birdie. However, the pick of Feroz's round was a par, which he saved on the par-4 17^th . After his tee shot landed in the water hazard on the fairway, Feroz hit a 4-iron shot to about eighteen inches and made par.

"I am extremely happy with my putting. Also I had made some changes to my swing, especially for this tournament where you are playing in windy conditions. After missing the title last year, I do not want to lose this time around," said Feroz, who is also supported by Century Plywood and Pioneer Polypipes.

Pappan's new-found form at the previous event -- the Kashmir Open -- continued as he went on a birdie-spree. Making a 15-feet birdie on the opening hole, he sunk a 25-footer on the par-4 third for a birdie. The ever-smiling pro, who is known for his sense of humor, made one more birdie on the ninth after missing an eagle from 10 feet. The birdie placed him even par for the day after he had three-putted on the second and seventh for bogeys while topping a chip to bogey the next hole too.

The Delhi pro after consecutive birdies on the 14^th and 15^th, chipped-in from the bunker on the finishing hole to card a total of 69.

"When I began, I had only one intention -- to sink as many birdies as possible. And to my luck, I found the cup often," said Pappan.

Meanwhile, Digvijay Singh had an unforgettable round. The only highlight of his game was a chip-in for an eagle on the par-4 15^th from behind the bunker. Earlier, he made a double bogey on the fifth and followed up with triple on the 16^th while also going one-over on the 18^th.

Mukesh Kumar found his putts sinking in as he made six birdies (1^st, 5^th, 9^th, 10^th, 13^th and 15^th) and two bogeys on the 13^th and 15^th.

Local amateur Vignesh Rao shot a lever-par round of 72 to lead the amateur section and was placed joint-ninth overall with a tally of eight-over 224.

Top scores (after 54 holes): 213_Feroz Ali (70,74,69); 217_ Vijay Kumar (73,72,72); 220_Pappan (72,79,69), Mukesh Kumar (77,75,68); 221_Digvijay Singh (73,71,77), Shiv Prakash (72,77,72); 222_S Madaiah (73,73,76), Sheeraz Kalra (74,71,77); 224_Uttam Singh Mundy (81,71,72), Amritinder Singh (69,80,75); 226_Vishal Singh (78,77,71), DS Raghuvanshi (76,76,74), Sanjay Kumar (77,74,74), Rahul Ganapathy (74,77,75), Rafiq Ali (78,70,78), Ajay Gupta (76,76,74).

Amateurs: 224_Vignesh Rangarao (75,77,72); 246_G Pandian (83,79,84).