Arjun opens up four-stroke lead

Comeback maestro Arjun Singh opened up a four-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the Rs One million Hero Golf Chandigarh Open when he shot a three-under 69 at the par-72, 7052-yard Chandigarh Golf Club course on Thursday.

The Asian PGA Tour regular aggregated 10-under 134 after two rounds. In hot pursuit is local lad Rajiv Kumar, who carded a five-under 67 to take second spot at six-under 138. K S Sibia, also of Chandigarh, was third at five-under 139. Delhi’s Pappan was fourth at four-under 140. Basad Ali of Calcutta, the other golfer to bring in a five-under 67 card, was placed fifth at three-under 141.

Amandeep Johl, Harmeet Kahlon (both Chandigarh) and Rahil Ganjee of Calcutta were placed tied-sixth at 142.

Defending champion Amritinder Singh’s quest for a third straight title defence seemed like an uphill task on Thursday as the local golfer was placed tied 20th at two-over 146. Amritinder’s two rounds have produced scores of 74 and 72.

The cut was applied at ten-over 154 with 51 pro’s and six amateurs making it to the money making rounds.

Among the leading golfers who missed the cut were Calcutta's Rafiq Ali and Delhi’s Shamim Khan.

Arjun Singh made a comeback early this season after missing almost two years on account of an injury layoff. However, followers of the game are seeing an even more determined Arjun. He won the Indian Masters in April at Dhaulakuan and then finished third in the Mercuries Masters in Taiwan a month ago.

But for an unfortunate double bogey on the 17th, the 31-year-old would have further widened the gap between him and the rest of the field. The supremely confident golfer started with par-birdie combination.

"My feel was there right through," said the in-form golfer. He went on to essay two more birdies -- on the fourth and ninth -- to make the turn at three-under. On the back nine, Arjun birdied the 14th and the 16th before hitting his tee shot out of bounds for the double bogey.

"I played my iron shots much better today," he said. "The 17th is a good birdie hole but I guess I was a bit unlucky as my tee shot hit a tree to leave my ball stranded one feet outside the OB fence," added Arjun, with a hint of dejection.

If K S Sibia stole the show on Wednesday, with a five-under 67, it was Rajiv Kumar’s day on Thursday. The 22 year-old was a bundle of excitement as was the sizeable group of locals following him.

"I just can’t believe it," said Rajiv, after scripting his best-ever round as a pro.

"I am a local golfer and that helped as I have grown up playing on this course," admitted a modest Rajiv.

"This is, however, not my best here. I have once played this course to eight-under in a practice round," he said.

Rajiv’s round included just one blemish in the form of a bogey on the 10th. His card was studded with birdies on the 4th, 6th, 8th and 9th on the front-nine and two more on his back-nine on the 13th and 14th.

Virk continues to lead amateurs: Local amateur Girish Virk brought in a one-over card 73 to lead the amateur field by two strokes at one-under 143.

At second spot was Gurbazz Mann at 145 while Vikranjit Singh was placed third at 146.

Scores (after 36 holes): 134 _ Arjun Singh (65,69); 138 _ Rajiv Kumar (71,67); 139 _ KS Sibia (67,72); 140 _ Pappan (69,71); 141 _ Basad Ali (74,67); 142 _ Amandeep Johl (72,70), Rahil Gangjee(72,70) , Harmeet Kahlon (70,72); 143 _ Uttam Singh Mundy (73,70), Yusuf Ali (73,70); 144 _ Bhoop Singh (73,71), Digvijay Singh (72,72), Mukesh Kumar (72,72), Roop Singh (72,72), Shiv Prakash (71,73).

Amateurs: 143 _ Girish Virk (70,73); 145 _ Gurbaz Maan (73,72); 146 _ Vikramjit Singh (77,69)