NEW DELHI – Oct. 14, 2004 – Ashok Kumar, continuing with the form which saw him card three successive title wins on the Amby Valley PGAI Tour, fired a superb opening round five-under 67 in quest of his fourth at the ONGC-Noida Open 2004, the sixth leg of the 2004-05 Amby Valley PGAI Tour, which began at the par-72, Noida Golf Course, near New Delhi on Wednesday.
One stroke behind the leader tied second at four-under 68, were perched his arch-rival from their amateur golfing days Shiv Kapur, Ranjit Singh and amateur golfer Gagan Verma. The quartet of Mukesh Kumar, Digvijay Singh, S. Madhaiah and Mohammed Nawab were tied fifth at 69 apiece.
Earlier, the main tournament was jointly inaugurated by Mr. N. Lal, Director Technology and Field Services, ONGC and Mr. Deo Datt, Chairman Noida Authority & President Noida Golf Course.
An analysis of Ashok Kumar’s wins this season will reveal one very interesting statistic. The golfer has won his three events each in varied climatic and course conditions. His first triumph came at the intricately designed Cosmo-TNGF Golf Course in hot and humid Chennai. Then followed a well-deserved victory at the extremely tight and narrow Bangalore Golf Club course in pleasant, but wet climes. Finally, last week, Ashok conquered the extremely long and manicured Classic Golf Resort in Gurgaon’s dry heat.
This week, the tiger returns to its den. It was at the Noida Golf Course, at the NGC Open 2002 that Ashok Kumar registered his first Amby Valley PGAI Tour win. “The Noida Golf Course has a special place in my heart,” said the 23 year old after his round of 67.
“I know I will play well here,” added Ashok who is on the hunt for his for his fourth straight title win on the Tour. On Wednesday , the tenth tee starter struck gold early with back-to-back birdies on the 14th and 15th where he sank a 15-footer from outside the green. On his return journey, Ashok dropped his only shot of the day on the third, where he found the right bushes. Thereafter his putter caught fire earning him a birdie on the fourth and a hat-trick of birdies on his closing holes. “I made 11 putts on my back nine,” said the Order of Merit leader who tallied a total of 24 putts.
Believe it or not, Shiv Kapur, for all the amateur golf he has played in India and given the fact that he is Delhi based has just totted up one friendly round at the Noida Golf Course. “That was years ago and honestly I had not much of a clue about how the course looked or played like till the Pro-Am,” said the 22-year old. That day Shiv did not do too badly shooting a three-under 69. On Wednesday, however, he did one better for a card of 68.
Shiv’s round began with a birdie on his opening hole, the tenth. Four holes later he sank a 15 feet putt to go two under for the day. Just when he looked set to put a foot on the accelerator, his three iron shot on the 16th, found the slope of the bunker from where he failed to make up and down to drop his first shot of the day.
On the 18th, his driver placed the golfer’s ball in the right trees. From there, a forceful 8-iron ricocheted off a tree and placed him 100 yards behind his target albeit on the fairway. A bogey followed placing Shiv at level-par on the first tee box. Thereafter the Asian Games gold medallist rediscovered his self belief to birdie the second, following it up with a hat-trick of birdies from the sixth to the eighth. “I aim to make as many birdies as possible and consolidate my position. I will worry about the opposition only in the final five or six holes of the tournament,” he said when queried about his fast growing rivalry with Ashok.
Ranjit Singh, number five on the Money List returned an error free card with four crisp birdies on the first (his opening hole), sixth, eighth and 14th. “The course is playing superb and the greens really true,” said Ranjit, who finished tied second at the Hero Honda Open South in Bangalore last month.
Verma leads amateur field, Gagan Verma courtesy his round of four-under 68 assumed a four stroke lead over Chirag Kumar who fired a level-par 72.
Scores (after 18 holes): 67 Ashok Kumar; 68 Shiv Kapur, Ranjit Singh; 69 Mukesh Kumar, Digvijay Singh, S Madhaiah, Mohd. Nawab; 70 Ali Sher, Gaurav Ghei, Gurki Shergill, Naman Dawar Amateurs: 68 Gagan Verma; 72 Chirag Kumar; 73 Anitya Chand
