Feroz Ali shoots into sole lead

Feroz Ali set himself up for his third Hero Honda Golf Tour title for the year 2002 and fourth overall this season with a brilliant four-under 68 at the Tk 15 lakh (Rs 1.2 million) Dutch-Bangla Bank Bangladesh Open 2002, being played at the par-72 Kurmitola Golf Club.

Feroz currently leads the field at nine-under 207 in the 19th leg of the 2001-02 season's Hero Honda Golf Tour.

In-form Digvijay Singh of Meerut was positioned two strokes behind the leader at seven-under 209, while the duo of overnight joint-leader Sanjay Kumar (Lucknow) and Mukesh Kumar (Mhow) were tied for third spot at six-under 210.

The revelation of the day was local amateur Mohd. Siddikur, who returned a one-under 71 to tie-fifth with Kolkata's Rafiq Ali at three-under 213. However, being an amateur, Siddikur's score will not count among the professional rankings, which makes Rafiq the lone occupant of the fifth spot.

Success in golf is all about planning your round. Feroz Ali does that better than anybody else on the Tour. The first two days saw the Kolkatan pace himself and edge slowly past Mukesh Kumar. Today, with the ball in his court, he let loose to scorch the course with a score of 68.

"I was very clear in my mind from the time I stood over my first tee shot today. Attacking golf is my forte and that is what I planned to do," said the second ranked golfer on the Hero Honda Golf Tour.

"Yesterday, we had a delicate situation in hand with as many as 13 golfers placed within two strokes of each other, but today, I hold the ace in my hand," added the leader.

Feroz's round included just two errors while six birdies studded his card.

"On the 2nd, my tee shot landed behind a tree leaving me with an unplayable lie. Then again on the 6th, I topped my second shot to find my ball once again nestled to a tree."

His early errors brought him bogeys on the holes in questions, but with back-to-back birdies on the 3rd and 4th (a 30 feet effort on the greens) he managed to make it past his outward journey at level-par. Then catching fire on his back-nine, Feroz went on to birdie the 10th, 12th, 16th and 17th.

"I am repeatedly told that there is just an 79 point difference between Mukesh and me for the Mahindra Champion Golfer of the Year award. I maintain that one needs to just concentrate on winning tournaments. The award will take care of itself," concluded the '98 Indian Open winner.

Digvijay SIngh has hit a purple patch this year. Last week, he narrowly missed out on winning The Telegraph Open, done in by a final round charge by Gaurav Ghei. This week, just two strokes behind the leader, he is definitely not going to give in without a fight.

Digvijay's first title came in his Rookie season at the BPGC Open in April 2000. Thereafter he has failed to card a win despite returning impressive performances time and time again.

"I guess it has just been a mental thing. My game has however improved by leaps and bounds in the past few months thanks to some vital lessons from my coach Kel Llewellyn and this will stand me in good stead tomorrow," said the AV Thomas Group employee.

Australian Llewellyn, is one of the most respected coaches in world golf and will be keen to see his ward pull off a win after a two-year gap.

Digvijay's round of four-under 68 was courtesy a back-nine flourish where he essayed an eagle on the 14th, following it up with a birdie-birdie finish to his round.

Starting the day with two pars, Digvijay went on to birdie the 3rd and then drop a shot on the 4th. Another birdie on the 8th was followed soon after by his second bogey of the day on the 11th.

"The eagle turned things around for me. It brought back that winning feel," he concluded.

Mukesh Kumar had his highs today and had actually snatched the lead from Feroz mid-way through his round, However, a bogey on the 14th coupled with Feroz's back-nine blitz saw him relegated to the tied-third spot.

Brilliant display by amateur Siddikur: Mohd. Siddikur, the 20-year old KGC amateur, propelled into a tied-fifth spot overall, opening up a huge 15-stroke lead over second placed Mohd. Milon.

Siddikur leads the amateur field with a tally of three-under 213 with credit to a third-round score of one-under 71.

ilon had a bad day with his score of 82 forcing his tally down to 228.

SCORE (after 54 holes) : 207_Feroz Ali(69,70,68); 209_Digvijay Singh(69,72,68); 210_Mukesh Kumar(68,72,70), Sanjay Kumar(70,69,71); 213_Rafiq Ali(71,69,73); 214_Ranjit Singh(69,72,73), Devendra Patel(70,70,74); 215_INdrajit Bhalotia(71,72,72), Jaiveer Virk(69,71,75); 216_Rohtas Singh(75,71,70), Rejwan Ali(72,73,71), Pappan(72,69,75), Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia(72,69,75), Shamim Khan(71,70,75).

Amateurs: 213_Mohd. Siddikur(72,70,71); 228_Mohd. Milon(76,70,82)

Earlier reports:
Sanjay Kumar, Feroz Ali displace Mukesh
Magnificent Mukesh takes lead at four under 68