Defending champion Mukesh Kumar of Mhow hogged the limelight with a superb bogey-free round of five under 65 to be the sole leader with a seven-stroke lead at the end of the penultimate round in the four round Hyundai Open in Chennai on Friday.

Kumar, the four-time 'Champion golfer of the Year', had a three-round tally of 10 under par 200.

Delhi's Ajay Gupta and Kolkata's Rafiq Ali are in the second and third spot respectively with identical scores of 207 while overnight joint leader Ashok Kumar, the 'Rookie of the year' from Delhi, failed to capitalise on his early lead with a disastrous round of six over 76 to be in the 10th spot.

Yusuf Ali (Kolkata) was in fourth place (209) followed by Bangalore's R.Murthy, S.S.P.Chowrasia (Del), Pappan (Del), Feroz Ali (Kol) and Uttam Singh Mundy (Kol) in fifth position with identical scores of 210.

Amongst the amateurs, L.Selvaraj of ONGC, with 214, and D.Nagaraj (234) were in the top positions.

Mukesh Kumar made a steady beginning and achieved his first birdie on the 5th hole and then in the 8th hole where he sunk a 20-footer putt. He was in superb form and never looked back before ending the day creditably with a 5 under par 65.

"I am in the final rounds without any worries as I have the cushion of a seven stroke lead," the 36-year-old professional, who is yet to register his first victory of the season, said.