Mukesh and Gaganjeet in command at the Tata Open

Jamshedpur,Jan 4(UNI) Mukesh Kumar and Gaganjeet Bhullar were the joint leaders at the end of round two of the Tata Open 2008 being played jointly at Beldih and Golmuri golf courses here today.

The two finished the second round with a total of five-under-par 137. One shot behind the joint leaders in tied third place were Harendra Gupta and Mohd Siddikur Rahman.

Defending champion SSP Chowrasia stayed in the hunt after he carded 68 at Golmuri. He is currently tied fifth and his total stands at two under 140.

Chowrasia's second round included an eagle on the seventh, birdies on 11th and 14th and bogeys on the ninth and 16th. Rafick Ali Mollah is tied fifth along with SSP Chowrasia.

Yesterday one half of the field had played its 18 holes on the par 72 Beldih Golf Course while the golfers in the other half had completed their rounds at the par 70 Golmuri Golf Course. But today both halves of the field switched venues (those who played at Beldih on day one, played 18 holes at Golmuri on day two and vice-versa).

Mukesh,the 2007 IOC Xtra Premium Masters champion,currently shares the lead thanks to two solid rounds of three under 69 (Beldih) and two under 68 (Golmuri).

The 2002 Tata Open champion was even par at the turn today after making birdies on the fifth and seventh and bogeys on the eighth and ninth holes of the Golmuri golf course. On the back nine Mukesh made two more birdies on the 10th and 12th.

Joint leader Gaganjeet Bhullar shot 66 at Golmuri to record the best round of the day. He had carded 71 at Beldih on Thursday.

Bhullar sank birdies on the fourth, 11th, 12th, 13th and 16th and dropped a bogey on the third.

Harendra Gupta(66) climbed to tie third after returning the best round of the day along with Gaganjeet Bhullar. His total moved to four under 138 as he had shot even par 72 at Beldih yesterday.

Playing at Golmuri today he began the front nine with a birdie on the first hole which was followed by a bogey on the third. Gupta then had an amazing run of three consecutive birdies on the fifth, sixth and seventh. The Chandigarh pro made bogey on the 10th, birdie on the 12th and another bogey on the 15th.

Gupta signed off in style with an eagle on the par five 16th where he hit a driver, five iron and then converted a five feet putt.

Bangladesh's Mohd Siddikur Rahman also finished round two in tied third after firing 71 and 67 at Beldih and Golmuri respectively.

Rahman sank birdies on the first, second, fourth, seventh, eighth, 13th and 14th and dropped bogeys on the sixth, ninth, 10th and 15th.

The cut has been made at nine over. A total of 52 professionals and 1 amateur made the cut.

Jamshedpur golfer Karan Taunk was the only amateur to make the cut.

UNI BDG KK RKM AS1919