Sanjay Kumar steals the lead

On a day which witnessed only four sub-par scores being carded, Sanjay Kumar of Lucknow reaped rich reward of carding the day's best of four-under 68, which helped him assume a three-stroke lead after the third day of the Rs 850,000 Servo Masters Golf 2000, being played at the par-72, Digboi Club Golf Links, on Friday.

Sanjay moved to a 54-hole tally of six-under 210, way ahead of the surprise packet of the tournament, Praduman Guleria, who climbed up three spots up from his overnight fifth position to share the joint second spot with Harmeet Kahlon and overnight leader Mukesh Kumar at three-under 213.

Defending champion Rohtas Singh was placed fifth at two-under 214, while the day's second best card of three-under 69 helped Yusuf Ali to a joint fifth place along with Feroz Ali and Rahul Ganapathy at one-under 215.

"Am I really in the lead?" asked a surprised Sanjay Kumar after being congratulated for his feat.

Sanjay had an inauspicious start to his round with a bogey, but recovered well with a string of birdies on the 3rd, 4th, 7th, and 9th to make the turn at three-under. A birdie on the 12th, where he sank a 13 footer and the 13th, where he chipped in from the edge of the green, along with another on the final hole helped him to a four-under despite back-to-back bogies on the 16th and 17th.

"I didn't expect this (the lead), but now that I have it, I'll go all out for the victory tomorrow," said the golfer whose only title came at the 1998 Color Plus Open in Madras.

Praduman Guleria brought in a one under 71, but was far from satisfied.

"The bottom line is, I wasn't as lucky as yesterday," said the Delhiite who broke the course record on Thursday with a six-under 66 which included first-ever albatross on the Wills Sport Golf Tour. Guleria had a bogey start to the day and with two more bogeys and as many birdies, finished his front nine at one over.

Chipping in from 20 feet for birdie on the 10th, Guleria missed an eagle on the following hole after his chip hit the pin but failed to sink. Guleria birdied the hole. A bogey on the 12th and a birdie on the 16th were his other two deviations from the par.

"I have never been in such a position before, so I can't say what I will do tomorrow," he said.

Mukesh Kumar was completely out of sorts, carding a three over 75 for the day. Bogies on the 7th and 8th, and a birdie on the ninth placed him at one-over at the halfway stage, but his back nine was a disaster with four bogeys and just two birdies.

"My entire game fell apart today. However this does not mean I will give up. I will win eventually," said the top-ranked golfer of last season's Mahindra rankings.

Harmeet Kahlon, playing his second season as a pro, has had three runner-up spots so far but has failed to convert it to a title. He has a good chance tomorrow to put that jinx to rest. The Chandigarh based golfer birdied the 1st, 5th and 7th with bogeys on the 2nd, 4th and 6th to make the turn at level par. A lone bogey on the 17th, resulting from a missed two feet putt handed him a one-over 73 card.

"Anything can happen tomorrow," was all Kahlon had to say.

Rohtas Singh's day's score of three-over 75 included three birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey on the 7th. I played terribly today. My hitting really let me down. I have to do something drastic if I am to retain my title from this situation," Rohtas said.

Rahul Ganapathy started and ended his round with double bogeys, with three birdies and an equal number of bogeys playing their part in his bringing in a third round card of four over 76.

SCORES (after 54 holes): 210 _ Sanjay Kumar (72,70,68); 213 _ Praduman Guleria (76,66,71), Harmeet Kaholon (71,69,73), Mukesh Kumar (68,70,75); 214 _ Rohtas Singh (71,68,75); 215 _ Yusuf Ali (72,74,69), Feroz Ali (73, 70, 72), Rahul Ganapathy (73,66,76); 217 _ Monish Bindra (72,72,73), SSP Chowrasia (71,72,74); 218 _ Mohd. Islam (77,71,70), Shiv Prakash (71,72,75), 219 _ Asgar Ali (73,73,73), Gurki Shergill (74,70,75) Amateurs: 236 _ Ajay Baruah (79,79,78); 244 _ Aparub Saikia (87,79,78)