Defending champion Mukesh Kumar and Ashok Kumar returned identical cards of four-under 66 each to forge ahead of the rest of the field at the end of the second day's proceedings in the Hyundai Open golf tournament in Chennai on Thursday.
The leaders had a two-day total of five under 135.
Kolkata pros Rafiq Ali and SSP Chowrasia were tied for the third spot at three-under par 137 along with Pappan of Delhi.
Overnight leader Yusuf Ali, Feroz Ali and Ajay Gupta shared the sixth position.
As many as 53 professionals made it to the money-making round after the cut was applied at eight over 148.
ONGC's L Selvadurai, with a total of one-over 141, is the lone amateur to make the professional cut.
Mukesh Kumar registered his first birdie on the par 5 third. He successfully attacked the pin and made five birdies with the longest being on the first with a six-footer. A birdie on the third after landing his second shot in the bunker was the pick of the round. The other birdies came on the 10th, 14th and 18th. The lone bogey came on the par-5 12th.
Top scores after 36 holes (pros): 135-Ashok Kumar (69,66), Mukesh Kumar (69,66); 137-SS Chowrasia (69, 68), Rafiq Ali (68, 69), Pappan (69, 68); 138-Yusuf Ali (67, 71), Feroz Ali (72,66), Ajaya Gupta (74, 64)); 139-Monish Bindra (69,70), Indrajit Bhalotia (71,68), Uttam Singh Mundy (68,71), D Patel (70,69).
Amateurs: 141-L Selvadurai (71,70); 155-D Nagaraj (75,80).