Rookie of the 2003-04 season Ashok Kumar shot a superb 67 to take a slender lead of one-stroke at the end of the penultimate round in the 850,000 Servo Masters 2003, the eighth leg of the Hero Honda Indian Golf Tour 2003-04 season at the Digboi Golf Links course on Friday.

The pro from Delhi has a three-day total of seven-under 209.

SSP Chowrasia shot a 69 to stay in the hunt and is in second place along with Pappan.

Vishal Singh is in the sole fourth position with a total of 211 while Rahul Ganapathy also matched the day's best score of five-under 67 and moved to joint fifth position with Suleman Ali and Sanjay Kumar who all have an aggregate
of 214 each.

Ashok Kumar, who is looking for his first title of the season, was confidence personified. Aiming for birdies right from the word `go', he went about the task, ardently making consecutive birdies on the third and fourth, the latter from the edge of the green. The 21-year-old lost an eagle chance when he two-putted from 20 feet on the par-5 seventh. He hit his shots to precision, especially the irons, landing closer and closer to the flags as the round progressed.

The Delhi lad made his first mistake on the 11^th, where he hit his second shot into a hazard and was lucky to escape with a bogey. However, he made amends with three birdies on the 12th, 14th and 15th, missing an eagle narrowly on the latter.

He three-putted on the 17^th for a bogey before signing off with a birdie.

"Today was a crucial round. Actually, Rahul Ganapathy and Amit Dube gave me a few tips last night, which were quite helpful. I knew had to hit the greens to stay in the reckoning," said Ashok Kumar after the round.

Rahul Ganapathy, who had recorded the lowest total of 12-under 60 during the last edition of the tournament, found his wonted form today after rounds of 73 and 74 on the first two days. The 25-year-old Mysorean began with a double bogey on the par-3 second when he hit the bunker and went over.

However, a determined Rahul began the repair-work with consecutive birdies on the next two holes with some lusty hitting. He added two more birdies on the sixth and ninth to make the turn at two-under. On the back nine, he fired three birdies on alternate holes starting from the 11th and the last of his eight birdies on the 16th to be six-under for the day.

However he missed a 2-feet par putt on the 17th.

"After that bogey, I was much more focused. I was hurrying through my shots on the first two days and the memories of my third round last year flashed to me and that proved to be inspirational, said Rahul.

Amongst the amateurs, Anitya Chand of Indian Oil Corporation Limited shot a level par 72 to move within three strokes of the leader Girish Virk, who totalled seven-over 223.

Top scores after 54 holes (Pros): 209_Ashok Kumar (72,70,67); 210_SSP Chowrasia (69,72,69), Pappan (70,69, 71); 211_Vishal Singh (71,69,71); 214_Rahul Ganapathy (73,74,67), Suleman Ali (71,72,71), Sanjay Kumar (71,70,73); 215_Rafiq Ali (72,72,71); 216_Zai Kipgen (70,73,73); 217_Pritam Saikia (73,68,76), Sandeep Syal (71,68,78).

Amateurs: 223_Girish Virk (74,74,75); 226_Anitya Chand (73,81,72).