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Two-stroke penalty proves costly for Indian golfers

An inspired Indian team slipped down the leaderboard at the 54-hole Asian Nations Cup, a qualifier for November's World Cup, after Rafiq Ali was hit with an unfortunate two-stroke penalty at the Kota Permai Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur today.

Ali, playing in his first overseas tournament, and Gaurav Ghei were late replacements for the Asian Nations Cup as the dates clashed with the Dunhill Cup where original selections Jyoti Randhawa and Vijay Kumar are competing.

Ghei and Ali, inspired by the performance of the Indian team against England in the Dunhill Cup yesterday, played well but the two-shot penalty saw them finish on level par 144. India's Jeev Milkha Singh beat world No. 5 Lee Westwood and Randhawa and Kumar lost narrowly to European Ryder Cup captain Mark James and David Howell respectively in the Dunhill Cup.

Ghei, who beat European ace Colin Montgomerie in the 1996 Dunhill Cup, shot three under 69 and Ali recorded a 75. Ali was penalised on the par-three sixth hole when he moved a ball in a water hazard which turned out not to be his ball. He carded a triple bogey six.

''He was hit with a two-stroke penalty for touching the hazard - it was very unfortunate. He was checking if it was his ball but in fact it was not,'' said Ghei.

''We watched the Indian lads in the Dunhill Cup at St Andrew's on television and they played great. As we were late replacements for this event we are really keyed up. Two good rounds tomorrow will put us back in contention.''

The Taiwan duo of Chen Liang-Hsi and Tsai Chi-Haung lead the Asian Nations Cup on seven under par 137. Myanmar, represented by Davidoff tour order of merit leader Kyi Hla Han and the little-known Soe Kyaw Naing, are three shots behind.

Chen, a 41-year-old veteran who has played in three World Cups, shot 68 with Tsai chipping in with a 69.

Four teams from the 21-nation Asian Nations Cup will qualify for the World Cup, to be played at the Mines Resort in Kuala Lumpur from November 18-21. World No. 1 Tiger Woods will team up with Mark O'Meara for the United States while James will represent England and Montgomerie will team up for Scotland with Dean Robertson.

UNI