The mightiest ever Emperor in Indian golf took center stage as the lead changed hands for the third successive day at the Rs five million PSPB OPEN Petroleum Golf Championship 2005, at the par-72 Delhi Golf Club on Saturday.
Mukesh Kumar fired his second successive error-free round with a card of 67 to nose a solitary stroke ahead of overnight leader Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia at 13-under 203.
Digvijay Singh was placed third at 206, while opening round leader Gaurav Ghei occupied the fourth position at 207.
Ashok Kumar, Amandeep Johl and Gaganjeet Bhullar were tied fifth at 208.
Shiv Kapur, continued his brilliant comeback after an opening round 82, with a five-under 67 to tie 16th at 218.
Meanwhile, Jeev Milkha Singh shot a round of 74, to tie 28th at 220 where he was accompanied among others by the leading Thai challenger Chapchai Nirat.
Mukesh Kumar has twin ambitions this week. He wishes to rectify the statistic, which screams out that he is yet to win an event at the Delhi Golf Club. Then he wishes to beat his 2002-03 season's record prize-money tally of Rs 21,77,402.
It was therefore a matter of little surprise when the determined Mhow golfer attacked on his very first hole to birdie and tie with Chowrasia. When on that occasion Mukesh's 3-wood, 2-iron, 5-wood combination left him one foot from the pin his opponent would have definitely been rattled. Nor for that matter is Mukesh of erratic mind-set. He is indeed more like a chess player who bides his time for an opportunity to strike. This Mukesh did six holes later but his birdie on the eighth was nullified by Chowrasia's similar effort on that hole.
Mukesh's authority was finally stamped on the 12th where his third birdie of the day handed him a two-stroke lead (Chowrasia bogeyed that hole). This was achieved in style with a 5-iron leaving him with a 20 feet downhill putt to negotiate. The challenge was gleefully accepted.
The 14th saw Mukesh place the ball two inches from the pin with a 3-wood, 6-iron, sand wedge combination. The 38-year old then put to use his experience by planning out his assault on the closing hole.
On that historic par-4, Mukesh teed off with a 3-wood, then deliberately placed his ball short of the green with a 5-iron. Chipping on, he birdied the hole with a 7 feet putt.
"Reading the putts on these greens have caused me concern over the years and that was one reason I preferred to play the ball short and chip on, on the 18th," said the thrice Order of Merit winner.
Despite this sterling showing which has seen him drop only three shots in 54 holes and all of them on the opening day, Mukesh confessed to being under pressure.
"The pressure is always on the leader as he keeps looking over his shoulder to ensure nobody is catching up," he said. "I always prefer to be one or two strokes behind going into the final round. That is when I play my best golf. That aside, tomorrow I have my game-plan all decided. I will attack in the first nine holes and then take is as the situation demands," he concluded.
Chowrasia was his usual ever-smiling self after signing his card of three-under 69.
"I played well today. No complaints. Only some putts failed to drop. It was just bad luck, otherwise, I am all set for tomorrow," said the 36-year old.
Chowrasia, playing with a sore wrist, the outcome of a motorcycle accident suffered in June 2004, lost the sole lead on the opening hole, but nudged ahead again with a birdie on the fifth. On the seventh, after a seven-iron placed his ball on the right greenside bunker, the Kolkatan chipped to three feet from the pin only to miss the par putt. A birdie on the eighth placed him on the tenth tee box at one-under. A bogey on the 12th however, proved to be a serious set-back with Mukesh birdying it and leaping to a two-stroke lead.
Chowarsia fought back gallantly with birdies on the 14th, 16th and 18th to set up an exciting title clash on the final day.
Scores: (after 54 holes): 203 Mukesh Kumar(71,65,67); 204 SSP Chowrasia(69,66,69); 206 Digvijay Singh(69,71,66); 207 Gaurav Ghei(66,73,68); 208 Ashok Kumar(69,70,69), Amandeep Johl(67,72,69), Gaganjeet Bhullar(68,70,70); 209 Rafick Ali(71,68,70); 211 Simarjeet Singh(69,71,71), Feroz Ali(67,70,74); 213 Sanjay Kumar (72,74,67), Gast Ram(71,69,73).