Mukesh, Feroz share the lead

Zai Kipgen sizzled the course with a superb five-under 67 but failed to displace Feroz Ali from the lead after the second round of the Rs. 850,000 Servo Masters Golf 2001.

Feroz, the overnight leader, was however joined by Mukesh Kumar atop the leader-board, the twosome tallying six-under 138.

The 13th leg of the 2001-2002 Hero Honda Golf Tour, the tournament is being played at the par-72 Digboi golf links.

Zai's effort earned him a tied-third spot with Chandigarh's Harmeet Kahlon, at three-under 141. Kolkata's Basad Ali, who was the other golfer to return a 67 on Friday, was tied-fifth with Rafiq Ali, SSP Chowrasia (both Kolkata) , Amit Dube (Noida) and 1999 Servo Masters winner, Delhi's Rohtas Singh at two-under 142.

Feroz Ali is enjoying an excellent eastern leg of this season's Hero Honda Golf Tour. The Kolkata pro, who has led the field in eight of his last ten rounds, was however slightly off colour on Friday.

"I was a shade rusty today but there is nothing to worry about. The important thing is that my swing still feels good as does my feel on the greens," he said.

Feroz a tenth tee starter had a terrible start with a double bogey studding his card on his very first hole.

"It was just one of those holes," said the '98 Indian Open winner.

Thereafter a birdie on the 12th and a bogey on the 14th saw him make the turn at two-over. A bogey on the 2nd pushed him to three-over but he made amends with birdies on the third, seventh and ninth and despite a bogey on the sixth, finished the day at one-over 73.

"I am very keen to return a big under-par score tomorrow as that will set me up nicely for a final day charge," he said.

Mukesh Kumar pegged on as only he can. "It feels good being in the lead," said the golfer who has an amazing nine top-five finishes this season including two runner-up spots. Mukesh's wins came at the TNGF Open and the Sher-e-Kashmir Open.

The Mhow-based golfer started the day with a bogey on the first, an eagle on the third helped him recover birdies on the seventh, 14th and 16th and bogeys on the fifth, ninth, 10th and 15th handed him a second-round score of level-par 72.

"My putting was a bit patchy today," said Mukesh after returning 28 putts. "The golf course is playing really great and as long you keep the ball in play you stand a good chance of returning a decent score. I aim to do just that tomorrow and force myself into a comfortable lead," concluded the leader of the Order of Merit.

Zai Kipgen was a revelation. The Manipuri golfer had two eagles (third, seventh), five birdies (fifth, eighth, 11th, 15th and 18th), a triple bogey on the 12th and a bogey on the 13th.

"Everything clicked for me today. There was of course the triple bogey-bogey streak but for which I would have been in the lead but I am not complaining," added the ever-smiling 22 year old.

Raj continues in lead: Raj Singh, improved upon his opening round score of 76 to post level-par 72 today. He now leads the field at four-over 148, five strokes ahead of second placed Ajay Barua, who tallies nine-over 153.

Scores (after 36 holes): 138 _ Mukesh Kumar (66,72), Feroz Ali (65,73); 141 _ Zai Kipgen (74, 67), Harmeet Kahlon (70, 71) ; 142 _ Basad Ali ( 75, 67) , Rafiq Ali (73, 69) , Amit Dube (72, 70) , Rohtas Singh (71, 71) , SSP Chowrasia (70, 72) ; 143 _ Yusuf Ali ( 70, 73) ; 144 _ DS Raghuvanshi ( 70, 74) ; 145 _ US Mundy ( 73, 72) ; 146 _ Akbar Ali ( 73, 73) , Sanjay Kumar (71, 75) Amateurs : 148 _ Raj Singh (76, 72) ; 153 _ Ajay Barua ( 83, 70) ; 162 _ Aparup Saikia (81, 81)