Vijay Kumar surprise leader in Bhatiary Open

Vijay Kumar shot a three-under 69 to leapfrog from eighth position after day two to the top of the leaderboard at the end of the penultimate round of the Rs One million Bhatiary Open 2001, the first ever professional event on Bangladesh soil, on Thursday.

Vijay, the Order of Merit winner on the Wills Sport Golf Tour for the past three seasons, aggregated level-par 216 and enjoyed a one-stroke advantage over Digvijay Singh. Rafiq Ali was third at two-over 218, while Bangladesh's No 1 golfer, Chand Mian was tied fourth at three-over 219 with India's No 1 golfer in 1999-2000, Mukesh Kumar.

Mohammed Norul Islam Ghani, the other Bangladeshi golfer in the leaderboard, shot a 76 and was sixth at four-over 220.

Even Vijay would have been surprised to find the field coming back to him despite such perfect weather and course conditions. The occasion seemed to overwhelm the leadergroups, comprising Tour regulars like Mukesh Kumar, Digvijay Singh and Rafiq Ali, as well as fresh entrants in an unfamiliar situation, Chand Mia and Md Norul Islam. But while they struggled, Vijay fired two eagles -- on the par-5 first and 11th and added birdies on the second and third to be four-under after just three holes. However, bogies on the fifth and 16th took some gloss off his card.

The Bhatiary Golf & Country Club has had an uncanny habit of being a great leveler. Just when a player feels he has had the measure of the course, he is brought back to reality with a series of bogies. The best example of this was overnight leader Mukesh Kumar who made the perfect start with one birdie and eight pars in his outward journey. That gave him a comfortable three-stroke cushion over his nearest pursuer. On the back nine, he started with a nightmarish double bogey and two bogies on the relatively easy par-3 and the two par-5 holes, saw him plummeting down to fourth place on the leader board. Though he hung on gamely, a 76 meant he will start three behind the leader when play commences on Friday.

Digvijay Singh also produced a mixed bag for the best gallery seen so far in the tournament as he compensated for his poor start with three delightful birdies on the trot at the start of the back nine. However, a double bogey on the 16th saw him close at his second consecutive 73, enough to place him in the final group along with Rafiq Ali. The Calcuttan returned a 74 after two successive 72s.

Chand Mia lived up to his top billing in Bangladesh. He starts the last day only three off the pace and has a realistic chance of winning his first pro title on home soil.

With as many eight players starting the final round within five strokes behind the leader, it can be anyone’s title on the morrow. This initial foray into professional golf has been very well received in Bangladesh and a close competitive finish would be the ideal climax to what has been a very enjoyable and hospitable week for the Indians.

SCORES (after 54 holes): 216 _ Vijay Kumar (73,74,69); 217 _ Digvijay Singh (71,73,73); 218 _ Rafiq Ali (72,72,74); 219 _ Chand Mia (71,73,75), Mukesh Kumar (74,69,76); 220 _ Mohammed Norul Islam Ghani (72,72,76); 221 _ Yusuf Ali (74,72,75), Rohtas Singh (72,73,76); 223 _ Feroz Ali (74,77,72); 224 _ Ranjit Singh (77,74,73), Amit Dube (78,72,74); Amateurs: 233 _ Mohammed Milon (76,76,81); 237 _ Siddiqur Rahman (79,78,80)