Feroz Ali holds sway

Feroz Ali dominated the leaderboard for the second day running with a two-day aggregate of seven-under 133 at the Rs 500,000 Ford-MGC Open 2000, being played on at the par-70, 6667-yard Madras Gymkhana Club golf course, on Thursday.

Feroz shot a one-under 69 on the second day and led Ali Sher, who moved up to sole second spot with a three-under 67 round. The twice Indian Open champion was two strokes behind the leader at five-under 135. Rafiq Ali, the younger brother of Feroz, was third at four-under 136 after a four-under 66 round, while Harmeet Kahlon and Vishal Singh were placed joint-fourth at three under 137.

Last week's Hindu Open winner Vijay Kumar on Thursday withdrew from the tournament due to an injured right arm. Vijay carded a very uncharacteristic five-over 75 in his opening round. The cut was applied at eight over 148 with the top 52 pros and five amateurs making it to the final two rounds.

Feroz Ali started the round from the tenth tee and began with a birdie. He followed it up with an eagle on the twelvth, which he set up by using his 3-wood twice before sinking in the resultant 10 feet put. His only blemish on the front nine coming on the unlucky 13th hole. The '98 Indian Open winner had a terrible back nine by his standard and could make only one more birdie -- on the third hole. He bogeyed the first and the sixth holes to finish the day at one-under 69.

"I played well today and would have carded a better score but for my bad bunker shots. My putting too could have been better," said Feroz, who required 28 putts to complete the round.

Ali Sher submitted an error-free round, with a birdie on the sixteenth on his front nine and two more on the seventh and eighth on his return journey. "I have won an event on all the major courses in India, but am yet to win one here. I want to set that record straight with a victory in this tournament," he said.

Rafiq Ali had birdies on the seventh, ninth, tenth, 13th, 14th and 16th and bogeys on the sixth and 17th. "Both my bogeys were made from the edge of the green, ten feet from the pin," said the Calcutta. "I have a feeling that I will however win this event," added Rafiq after carding the day's best score of 66.

Harmeet Kahlon, the India Cements-sponsored golfer, had only one birdie on the seventh and three bogeys - on the fourth, tenth and fifteenth -in his round of two-over 72. "I didn't hit the ball close to the pin enough and therefore, couldn't make enough birdies today," said Kahlon.

Vishal Singh, placed third overnight, carded a level-par 70, with birdies on the 14th, which culminated with a fine fifteen feet putt and sixteenth, where he sank a ten feet putt. He dropped shots on the 13th and fourth holes respectively. "My putting let me down today," said Vishal after the round.

Calcutta's veteran pro Basad Ali brought back memories of the time when he ruled the professional field. The 45-year old golfer parred all nine holes of his front nine and made a hat trick of birdies from the 11th hole onwards. That gave him a blemish free card of three-under 67. Basad is placed at two-under 138 after two rounds and occupies the sole sixth spot.

Yudhvir grabs lead among amateurs: CV Yudhvir led the amateur field with a two-day tally of three-over 143. At second place was overnight joint leader Jaideep Patwardhan at four-over 144, while L Selvadurai slipped to ten-over 150 and the third spot.

SCORES (after 36 holes): 133 _ Feroz Ali (64,69); 135 _ Ali Sher (68,67); 136 _ Rafiq Ali (70,66); 137 _ Harmeet Kahlon (65,72), Vishal Singh (67,70); 138 _ Basad Ali (71,67); 139 _ Indrajeet Bhalotia (69,70); 140 _ Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia (70,70), Gursimran Sethi (71,69); 141 _ Mohd. Islam (71,70); Amateurs: 143 _ CV Yudhvir (73,70); 144 _ Jaideep Patwardhan (72,72); 150 _ L Selvadurai (72,78)