Mukesh equals course record to take lead in ONGC Noida Golf

NOIDA, Apr 25 (UNI) Veteran Mukesh Kumar went on a rampage to fire a brilliant nine-under 63 to equal the course record and emerge leader at the end of first round of the Rs 10-lakh ONGC-Noida Open Golf here today.

The record was earlier held by Chandigarh's A S Lehal who as an amateur fired a 63 in the opening round of the PSPB Open Golf last year Kolkata's Uttam Mundy was placed second at six-under 66, while Meerut's Amardip Sinh Malik occupied the third place at 67.

Mukesh's round commenced with a par before a birdie on the 11th set the ball rolling for the Mhow golfer. On the 12th, his driver-pitching wedge combination placed him in the right bunker from where he went on to drop his only shot of the day.

Thereafter, the 39-year-old went on to birdie the 13th, 14th, 16th and 17th to make the turn at four-under.

On his return, Mukesh birdied the first, second and fourth before sinking a superb 30-feet putt from outside the green for a birdie on the fifth. He went on to finish with a flourish with a 20-feet left to right curler for birdie on the ninth.

Uttam Mundy wasted little time in birdying his opening hole.

The Kolkatan three-putted to bogey the third but came back with birdies on the seventh and eighth.

Birdies on the 11th and 13th were followed by an eagle on the 14th. Another birdie on the 16th saw him approach the 17th tee box at seven under.

However, the 17th brought with it a bogey and a pared closing hole later, Mundy found himself at second position, three behind the leader.

A first tee starter, Mailk used a driver three iron combo subsequently chipping to one foot to birdie his opening hole.

Thereafter, he went on to birdie the fourth, sixth, eighth and ninth.

A birdie on the 11th placed him at six-under at the 12th tee box but a regulation bogey on the par-three 16th saw him settle for a card of 67.

In the amateur section, Jasjeet Singh had a superb round of four-under 68 to assume the lead. The local golfer registered five birdies in contrast to one bogey and hit as many as 14 greens in regulation. Manav Jaini was placed second at 69.

Score (after 18 holes): 63 Mukesh Kumar; 66 Uttam Singh Mundy; 67 Amardip Sinh Malik; 68 Vijay Kumar, Amritinder Singh, Jasjeet Singh ; 69 Ali Sher, Feroz Ali, Toran Shahi, Ashok Kumar, Vivek Bhandari, SSP Chowrasia.

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