By IANS
Mumbai : A consistent Ashok Kumar carded a brilliant six-under-par, 64 to grab the lead after the second round of the Rs.7 million Crompton Greaves Open at the Bombay Presidency Golf Club here Friday.
Kumar carded a total of nine-under-par 131 at the halfway stage of the inaugural tournament. He birdied the first, third, sixth and seventh holes to make the turn at four-under-par, 31.
He hit a bogey on the par-three 10th hole and that was the only shot he dropped all day, after he hit a wedge over the green and missed the return chip and putt for par.
However, a birdie on the 12th and an eagle on the par-five 16th hole where he hit a seven-iron second shot to 12-feet and holed the putt, helped him card a 64 in the second round, taking his 36-hole total to nine-under-par, 131.
"I hit the ball very well today but my putting was average," said Kumar.
"The back nine played tough today but I have no complaints about my game and am happy with the way things are progressing."
Overnight leader, Gaganjeet Bhullar remained in the hunt after he carded a one-under-par, 69 to take his total for two rounds to seven-under-par, 133. Bhullar birdied the first and fourth holes, but dropped shots on the seventh and eighth holes to make the turn at level-par for the day. He dropped another shot on the 12th but picked up birdies on the par-five 14th and 18th holes to shoot 69.
"My hitting was as good as yesterday, but I missed a lot of putts today, specially for birdie. The course also played a little tougher as some of the pins were tucked in," he said.
Uttam Singh Mundy who played consistent golf to card two consecutive rounds of 68 and Yusuf Ali who carded a four-under-par, 66 in the first round and followed it up with a level-par 70 today, are currently in third place at four-under-par, 136.
"I could have carded a much better score today as I made a double bogey on the ninth hole, but am happy with my game as I am playing consistently and that is what we professionals strive for," said Mundy.
Amardip Singh Malik and Shamim Khan are a stroke further behind, while Australian Richard Backwell, Arjun Singh and C. Muniyappa are at two-under-par, 138.
Seasoned professional Mukesh Kumar did not have a very satisfactory round as he carded a four-over-par 74 after a 65 in the opening round and is currently at one-under-par, 139.
"I have been playing the second round badly for quite some time now and made a couple of three-putts today which did not help," he said.