Mukesh takes halfway lead at Kolkata Classic golf meet

Kolkata March 22 (IANS) Golfer Mukesh Kumar grabbed the halfway lead at the Kolkata Classic courtesy his second round of four-under 68 here at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club (RCGC) on Wednesday.

The Mhow-based golfer was ahead by one as his total read seven-under 137. Delhi s Shamim Khan also fired a second round score of 68 to occupy second place at six-under 138. His was the only bogey-free round of the day.

SSP Chawrasia the pre-tourney favourite brought in a card of 70 to end the day in tied fourth at three-under 141 total.

The cut fell at five-over-149. Fifty-four professionals made the cut.

Mukesh (69-68) moved up two spots from overnight tied third to first as a result of his gritty second round effort which saw him notch up five birdies at the expense of just one bogey.

The 51-year-old the winner of a record 18 titles on the PGTI who registered his first international win last year in Delhi began his ascent to the top with a 25-feet birdie conversion on the fourth on Wednesday.

Mukesh s birdie on the eighth was negated by a bogey on the 10th but the oldest winner on the Asian Tour came roaring back with a trail of birdies on the 14th 15th and 16th.

He was in troubled waters on the 15th and 16th but made excellent recoveries to extract birdies on both holes.

I have two victories at the RCGC but it s been a while since I last won here definitely over a decade. So I m eager to perform well this time. I was quite pleased with the way I recovered on a couple of holes today. I was in the bunker on the 15th and in the rough on the 16th but managed birdies on both occasions Mukesh said later.

Shamim Khan (70-68) climbed from overnight tied seventh to second place after delivering the only bogey-free round of the day. Shamim sank three birdies from a range of 12 to 30 feet on Wednesday.

While overnight joint leader S. Chikka of Bengaluru slipped to third at five-under 139 after shooting a 71 on the second day Indian Open winner Chawrasia made major gains with a 70 that took him from overnight tied 18th to tied fourth.

Chandigarh s Sujjan Singh (71) and Sri Lankan N. Thangaraja (71) joined Chawrasia in tied fourth.

Delhi s Rashid Khan and PGTI Order of Merit leader Ajeetesh Sandhu of Chandigarh were in tied 31st place at three-over 147.

Kolkata-based rookie Viraj Madappa (eight-over 152) missed the cut.

--IANS
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