Shamim Khan forges ahead

Shamim Khan, one of the most exciting young talents on the Hero Honda Indian Golf Tour, shot a three-under to snatch the lead at the halfway stage of the Rs 1.5 million Royal Springs Open, at the par-72 Royal Springs Golf Course, in Srinagar, on Friday.

Shamim, who scored a hole-in-one on the opening day, aggregated an eight-under 136 for two rounds, thus opening a one-stroke lead over second-placed Harmeet Kahlon. The reigning Hero Honda Masters champion added a 69 to his 68 on Thursday.

Feroz Ali was third at six-under 138. Delhi youngster Jaiveer Virk, who finished third in Sher-e-Kashmir Open here last year, shot the day's best card of five-under 67 to join Pappan at tied-fourth place at 139.

The cut was applied at eight-over 152 and 52 pros made it to the weekend rounds.

Shamim Khan was consistency personified as he made five birdies and two bogeys on day two. He started on the 10th tee with a birdie and was even-par at the turn with bogeys on the 14th and 18th and a birdie on the 17th, where he sank a 12 footer putt. On the back-nine he birdied the first, seventh and ninth holes.

"I didn't really practice hard during the off-season but I made sure that I maintained my rhythm by playing five-six holes almost everyday. My putting has been pretty good these past two days and I have been able to read the greens well," said Shamim, whose previous career best is a runner-up finish in the 2000 Aravalli Open.

Kahlon, who is sponsored by India Cements, went bogey-free for the second successive day. He started with nine straight pars and then made birdies on the 10th, 11th and 14th holes for a three-under 69.

"I was very happy with my game. I was relaxed throughout and never got bothered with nine consecutive pars. I am planning a similar approach for the next two days," said the reigning Hero Honda Masters champion.

Overnight leader Digvijay Singh had a terrible day off the tee and made two double bogeys after going well into the left rough on the 14th and eighth holes. In fact, the Meerut-based player dropped four strokes in his last four holes to card a dismal two-over 74.

"I think I was trying too hard to make a score today, while I was playing carefree golf yesterday," he said after the round.

Star attraction Jyoti Randhawa started with a double bogey and then made just one birdie in a round of one-over 73 that took his tally to two-under 142.

Gaurav, who was frustrated by his putting on day one, was in his elements with a four-under 68, while thrice Mahindra Champion of the Year, Mukesh Kumar, shot a two-under 70 after his disastrous 77 yesterday.

SCORES (after 36 holes): 136_Shamim Khan(67,69); 137_Harmeet Kahlon(68,69); 138_Feroz Ali(68,70); 139_Jaiveer Virk(72,67), Pappan(68,71), Ali Sher(67,72); 140_Uttam Singh Mundy(72,68), Amit Dube(72,68), Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia(69,71), Rahil Gangjee(68,72) Digvijay Singh(66,74); 141_Vijay Kumar(68,73); 142_Ranjit Singh(70,72), Jyoti Randhawa(69,73); 143_Gaurav Ghei(75,68), Ashok Kumar(70,73).

AMATEURS: 146_Vikrant Chopra(73,73); 148_Harinder Gupta(73,75)

Day 1 report
Digvijay leads with a 66 on low scoring day