Mukesh Kumar, Feroz Ali
in joint lead

Despite the return of the dreaded winds, Mhow's Mukesh Kumar and Feroz Ali of Kolkata stood firm like rocks to jointly lead the Cotton City Open 2002 at the halfway stage of the Rs 850,000 event, being played at the Coimbatore Golf Club, on Thursday.

Mukesh, who is looking for his third successive victory on the Hero Honda Indian Golf Tour after victories at the Hindu and Hyundai Opens in Chennai, and Feroz returned cards of two-under 70 to open a two-stroke lead at the top at six-under 138.

Unheralded Mohammed Salim of Kolkata submitted the day's best card of three-under 69 to tie overnight joint leader Shiv Prakash for the third place at four-under 140. The Kanpur-based Shiv Prakash added an even-par 72 to his four-under 68 round on the opening day.

Another Kolkata pro, Raju Ali, also shot a 69 and moved up to tied eighth place at three-over 147. Veteran Rohtas Singh shot a two-under 70 to take the fifth place at two-under 142, while Ajay Gupta of Delhi and Bhoop Singh of Lucknow were joint sixth at level-par 144. As many as 51 professionals and one amateur -- Coimbatore lad Joseph Chakola -- made it to the weekend rounds after the cut was applied at 14-over 158.

The in-form Mukesh played a steady round. The birdie on the ninth was spectacular. After landing in the sand trap, Mukesh holed his bunker shot from 25 feet. His other birdies came on the fifth, sixth, and ninth holes. But before that, Mukesh hit a tree on the left and made a bogey on the second hole, as well as recording a three-putt bogey on the eighth.

"I am aiming for a hat-trick of wins. But with two days to go and Feroz right along side me, it won't be that easy," said the thrice Mahindra Champion Golfer of the Year.

Meanwhile a confident-looking Feroz began with a bang, slamming two consecutive birdies after starting from the tenth. However, the 34-year-old pro missed a chip-putt on the next to make a bogey. The Kolkata pro seems to have taken a liking for the difficult par-5 13th hole, once again slipping his ball through a narrow gap in between the protruding branch of a tree along the fairway onto the adjacent 17th fairway to avoid the dogleg. He reached the green in two and two-putted for his third birdie of the day.

On his return journey, Feroz once again missed a couple of birdies, especially on the par-4 sixth. Landing 25 feet from the green with his drive, he chipped close to the pin but failed to sink his birdie putt. He bogeyed the eighth hole following a bumpy second shot and signed off with a birdie on the ninth.

"My new equipment has done a lot of good for my hitting which I am happy about," said Feroz who is using Wilson Deep Red irons.

"The conditions were tough today with strong winds and tough pin positions," he added.

It was a commendable effort from Mohammed Salim, who is using borrowed clubs. After breaking two clubs during the TNGF Open in Chennai, Salim was forced to borrow from others. In fact, he is using clubs from five different players who have been generous enough to lend him their equipment.

On the course today, Salim sunk three consecutive birdies on the 5th, 6th and 7th and went on to miss an eagle on the ninth after missing an 11-footer putt. He also missed a hole-in-one on the par-3 seventh after his tee shot almost hit the flag and went four feet past.

The 38-year-old pro three-putted on the 16th from 12 feet, apart from two other bogies on the eighth and the 14th.

"I messed up some easy chances. I am thrilled with my scores and am excited about teeing off with the leader group tomorrow," said an elated Salim.

Top scores (after 36 holes): 138 _ Mukesh Kumar (68,70), Feroz Ali (68,70); 140 _ Shiv Prakash (68,72), Mohammed Salim (71,69); 142 _ Rohtas Singh (72,70); 144 _ Ajay Gupta (73,71), Bhoop Singh (72,72); 147 _ Raju Ali (78,69), Jaiveer Virk (75,72), Gurki Shergill (74,73), V Wilson (74,73), Yusuf Ali (74,73), SSP Chowrasia (73,74); 148 _ Chini Ali (76,72); Amateurs: 156 _ Joseph Chakola (81,75); 161 _ Deepak Kumar (80,81); 162 _ P Sivamurthy (79,83)