Pappan regains lead

The first tournament on the 2001-02 season's Hero Honda Golf Tour is headed towards a nerve-tingling finish, with the top three players a mere four strokes adrift of each other.

On Friday, opening round leader Pappan reclaimed his spot in the limelight with an aggregate of eight-under 208, handing him the lead by a slender margin of one stroke at the Rs 750,000 The Hindu Open, being played at the par-72, 6,654-yard Cosmo-TNGF golf course.

With Calcutta's Yusuf Ali breathing uncomfortably down the leader’s neck, with an aggregate of 209, and defending champion Vijay Kumar giving himself a fine platform to make a final day charge from four-strokes behind Pappan, the leader can ill afford to rest on past laurels.

While Vijay Kumar aggregated four-under 212, Patna’s Mohd. Islam was placed fourth at three-under 213. Just one stroke behind Islam was the dangerous trio of Mukesh Kumar, Rohtas Singh and Shiv Prakash occupiying the tied fifth position at two-under 214. Vishal Singh, who brought in the day’s best card of four-under 68, was tied eighth with Ali Sher and Sheeraz Kalra at an aggregate of one-under 215. Overnight leader Ranjit Singh carded an inexplicable 11-over today to slip to tied-20th position.

Pappan was a dejected man on Thursday when several putts lipped out to deny him his second straight day atop the leaderboard. On Friday, however, the Delhiite booked his place atop the final day’s leaderboard with a not too flashy but consistent round of two-under 70.

A first tee starter, Pappan began the day with a birdie. Two more birdies on the 4th and 6th placed him at three-under with three front nine holes left to play. A bogey on the 7th, however, saw him enter the back-nine at two-under. Playing his return journey to par proved sufficient to hand the golfer the lead.

"I said I would be back in the lead and I have done it. I know Yusuf is just one stroke behind me and players like Vijay Kumar, Mohd. Islam, Mukesh, Rohtas and Shiv Prakash are too close for comfort. However, they will have to play really well to beat me as every single aspect of my game is in place," said a confident Pappan.

Yusuf Ali is another dark horse who has from time to time thrown his hat into the ring for a victory on the Indian Tour. Never having ever won a tournament will ensure that Yusuf will be motivated enough to go for his first career title.

On Friday, the short and stocky Yusuf , birdied the 6th before returning two more birdies on the 14th and 18th in his day’s round of three-under 69.

"I had a fair chance of winning a tournament last year at the Servo Masters Golf in Digboi but the pressure got to me. I have worked hard on that aspect of my game over the summer and have learnt the art of transferring pressure. This will stand me in good stead tomorrow," said the golfer, whose claim to fame thus far has been that he is the old war-horse Basad Ali’s nephew.

Who isn’t aware of Vijay Kumar’s ability to convert wins? The twice ‘Player of the Year’ award winner is on the threshold of his third straight win here and he is determined as hell to achieve it.

"I hold the Hindu Open very close to my heart and am determined to force a win tomorrow," said Vijay, whose day’s score of two-under 70 included a bogey start to his round on the 1st, birdies on the 3rd, 10th, 12th and 16th and another bogey on the 13th.

"It is going to be a close battle tomorrow. Pappan putted like a king today and if he continues in that vein, it will require some effort to beat him," said Vijay who seemed unconcerned by the fact that Mukesh, Rohtas and Shiv Prakash lurk just two strokes behind him.

Mohd. Islam returned a one-over 73 today and needs to play a lot better if he is to essay a top three finish. Shiv Prakash with a two-under 70, Rohtas with a one-under 71 and Mukesh who carded a level-par 72 are three golfers who could easily go on to cause an upset tomorrow. That coupled with Vishal Singh’s new found form which saw him card a four-under 68 today leaves the pandora box that much wider open.

Meiyappan continues to lead amateur field: Gurunath Meiyappan returned a two-over 74 today to lead the amateur field at four-over 220. CV Yudhvir was placed three strokes behind Meyappan at 223.

SCORES (after 54 holes): 208_Pappan(66,72,70); 209_Yusuf Ali(69,71,69); 212_Vijay Kumar(72,70,70); 213_Mohd. Islam(70,70,73); 214_Shiv Prakash(72,72,70), Rohtas Singh(72,71,71), Mukesh Kumar(68,74,72); 215_Vishal Singh(75,72,68), Ali Sher(76,68,71), Sheeraz Kalra(72,71,72); 216_Rahul Ganapathy(72,72,72), Basad Ali(71,73,72), Randhir Ghotra(71,72,73) Amateurs: 220_Gurunath Meiyappan(74,72,74); 223_CV Yudhvir(73,78, 72)