Vijay, Gaurav in five-way lead in HT ProGolf

The Rs 800,000 HT ProGolf 2002 started on an exciting note when as many as five golfers tied for the lead after the opening round with scores of two-under 70 apiece.

Gaurav Ghei and Vijay Kumar, two of the biggest names in Hero Honda Indian Golf Tour, were joined by KS Sibia, Randhir Ghotra and Yusuf Ali atop the leader-board at the par–72, 7,343-yard Jaypee Greens course, on Tuesday.

Asgar Ali, Basad Ali (both Kolkata), Minky Barbora (Noida), Rajkumar Rawat (Lucknow) and Mohd Nawab (Patna) were tied for the sixth position at one-under 71. India’s top-ranked golfer, Mukesh Kumar of Mhow, was tied for 33rd after playing to three-over 75.

Vijay Kumar, once the uncrowned king of Indian golf, is now desperate to recapture his lost glory. Vijay, but for his high standards, has had a very ordinary 2001-02 season with just one victory at the Royal Challenge Grand Prix, Noida. On Tuesday, the 32-year-old from Lucknow, overcame a shaky start to return a spree of birdies on his back nine and pole-vaulted to the lead.

"I have been struggling this season but the win at Noida brought back my confidence. Noida seems to be lucky for me and I am looking for greater things at Greater Noida," he said, in characteristic style.

“This golf course is playing superb and suites my style of play,” added Vijay, who is one of the longest hitters on the Hero Honda Golf Tour.

Vijay, a tenth tee starter, dropped a shot on his very first hole, but recovered to par the remaining holes of his outward journey. On his back-nine, the thrice winner of the Order of Merit (1997-98, ‘98-99, 1999-2000) birdied the second before essaying back-to-back birdies on the 7th and 8th to return a score of 70.

"My hitting is great but I need to sink some more putts," said the golfer, who returned 30 putts for the day.

Gaurav Ghei, returning to the Tour after a two-week break, made an instant impact today. "The break did wonders for me," said the Delhi Golf Club pro.

Gaurav, who became the first Indian to qualify for the prestigious British Open in 1997, was brilliant off the tee. But, much like Vijay, had a few complaints against his short game. "I hit the ball beautifully but my putting will need to improve," he said, after requiring 30 putts for the round.

“The fact that there are five golfers leading the tournament speaks highly of the growing levels of competition on the Tour. Neither Vijay, nor I, can take things for granted," he said.

Gaurav returned birdies on the 11th and 15th and a bogey on the 12th on his front-nine, while his back-nine constituted of birdies on the third and sixth and a bogey on the eighth.

The surprise of the day was the Chandigarh duo of K S Sibia and Randhir Ghota. Sibia, who came in to the limelight earlier this season at the Hero Golf Chandigarh Open where he finished second to Arjun Singh, was in his elements with a lone bogey on the 10th, compensated by birdies on the ninth, 11th and 13th.

"I missed two successive four-feet birdie putts on the 14th and 15th," lamented the 23-year-old.

Another 23-year old, Randhir, incidentally Sibia’s best friend, three-putted the 14th but birdied the 8th, 9th and 12th.

“It feels great to be in the lead,” said Ghotra, whose best finish this season was a tied 11th finish at the Hindu Open.

“Tomorrow will be a test of our temperament, what with players like Gaurav and Vijay around, “ he said. "But we will be looking forward to the challenge,” concluded Ghotra.

Yusuf Ali, winner of the season opening Hindu Open, was the other golfer to tie for the lead. A first tee starter, Yusuf bogeyed the 10th and birdied the 4th, 11th and 18th.

Chatfield leads amateurs: Australian Garry Chatfield, the Greens Superintendent at the Jaypee Greens course, made full use of his local knowledge of the greens to return a four-over 76 to lead the amateur field. Arjun Singh and M Pathania were tied second at 78.

SCORE (after 18-holes): 70 _ Gaurav Ghei, Vijay Kumar, KS Sibia, Yusuf Ali, Randhir Ghotra; 71 _ Asgar Ali, Basad Ali, Minky Barbora, Mohd Nawab, Raj Kumar Rawat; 72 _ Akbar Ali, Devendra Patel, Dinesh Kumar , Feroz Ali, Rahil Gangjee, Rajesh Kumar Rawat, Shiv Prakash;
Amateurs: 76 _ Garry Chatfield; 78 _ Arjun Singh, M Pathania