Ashok Kumar takes sole lead on round one

Bangalore, Feb 22 (UNI) Ashok Kumar carded a scorching six-under 64 to take a two-stroke lead over Harmeet Kahlon in the Rs 60 Lakh Solaris Global Green Open which began at Bangalore Golf Club here today.

Maintaining his form after winning the Indian Oil Xtra Premimum Masters in Digboi earlier this month, Ashok carded a bogey-free first round. An eagle on the par-five fourth hole, where he hit a driver and seven-iron to just two feet, saw him kick-start his campaign in style.

He then followed it up with back-to back birdies on the par-four sixth and the par-three seventh. The back nine saw him keep this rhythm. Ashok birdied the par-four 13th hole after he hit his drive to edge of the green and comfortably two-putted for birdie. In the 15th he birdied again. He pared the last three holes coming in to card a two-under on the back nine.

"My driving and iron-play were both very good, but I did not putt too well today. All my birdies were within one or two feet and I just did not hole any long putts", said Ashok, who finished tied-fourth at the Emaar-MGF Championship here in December last.

Harmeet, the current PGTI Order of Merit leader, was in sole second place after he carded four-under-par 66. The Chandigarh professional holed a 20-foot putt for a birdie on the second hole, followed by another the par-five and went on to two-putt for his second birdie of the day. He then birdied the par-four 12th hole from eight feet but dropped his only stroke of the day on the par-four 13th where he three-putted from approximately 30 feet.

However, back to back birdies on the 14th and 15th helped him card a 66.

"I am comfortable with the way I am playing but these greens are tough to read which makes scoring tough", said Harmeet.

Digvijay Singh, who carded a three-under-par, 67, was tied alongwith Rahul Ganapathy, Vivek Bhandari, Kunal Bhasin for third place. "I missed a lot of putts and it could have been a lot better. Also, the wind played havoc and it played an important role today as it made scoring tougher", Digvijay said.

Meanwhile, tournament favourite S S P Chowrasia could not have a eventful round, carding a one-under-par, 69. "I just did not drive the ball well. My driving has been troubling me of late and I missed everything today", he said after his round.

All India Champion, Himmat Rai, who was making debut in professional tournament, carded a consistent level-par, 70 and was tied with Gast Ram, Shiv Prakash, Vikrant Chopra, Shinji Fukushima, B G Lalithkumara, Abhishek Ahlawat and Sri Lanka's Anura Rohna. Scores: (After 18 holes) 64-Ashok Kumar; 66-Harmeet Kahlon; 67-Digvijay Singh, Rahul Ganapathy, Vivek Bhandari, Kunal Bhasin; 68-Lam Chin Bing, C Muniyappa, Shankar Das, Rafick Ali, chinni Ali, ranjit Singh, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Yusuf Ali, 69-Md Islam, SSP Chowrasia, Craig McLean, Devendra Patel, Sujjan Singh, Pappan; 70-Gast Ram, Shiv Prakash, Vikrant Chopra, Shinji Fukushima, B G Lalithkumara, Abhishek Ahlawat, Himmat Rai, Anura Rohana.

UNI