NEW DELHI, April 24: Shiv Prakash may not have burnt the course with three amazing rounds of golf, but the highest level of consistency which has been his hallmark in the SRF Open has already ensured him of the top prize, with the final round to go tomorrow.The Kanpur pro, gunning for his first title this year, has aggregated a scintillating 15-under 201, after a five-under 67 on round three, and has increased his lead by eight strokes over the second placed Vivek Bhandari, who with a four-under 68, has aggregated 209.
With Arjun Singh and Jyoti Randhawa, a further four strokes behind Bhandari, the chances of anybody catching up with the leader is too remote unless of course there is an inexplicable turn of form for Prakash.
Defending champion Gaurav Ghei went out of the title race when he level parred the third round for a par aggregate of 216.
With two birdies to begin with, Prakash hardly played a bad shot even as he parred till the eighth and sunk a birdie there to go out with a 33. Even on hisreturn journey, Prakash had little problems in parring the 10th to the 13th. He sunk birdies in the next two to finish with a 34. The fact that he was hitting the ball well was demonstrated in his 18 regulations. But he missed a four-feet birdie putt on the 12th and a three-feet birdie putt on the last hole.
Perhaps the only player who can change the most predictable script on the final day is Bhandari. He begins with a eight shot deficit but after his 69 and par 72 on the first two days, he turned in his best card today.
Arjun Singh, who had a five-under yesterday, had to settle for par today and was sharing the third spot with Jyoti Randhawa. The Meerut-based Randhawa had an eagle on the fourth with his second shot in his four-under 68.
RESULTS
After 54 holes: Professionals: 68, 66, 67 (201) Shiv Prakash; 69, 72, 68 (209) Vivek Bhandari; 74, 67, 72 (213) Arjun Singh; 72, 73, 68 (213) Jyoti Randhawa; 73, 72, 69 (214) Rohtas Singh; 72, 73, 70 (215) Ali Sher; 69, 75, 72 (216) Gaurav Ghei; 78,69, 69 (216) Arjun Atwal; 70, 73, 74 (217) Basad Ali; 74, 71, 72 (217) Vishal Singh; 71, 74, 73 (218) Jumman; 75, 70, 73 (218) Ajay Gupta; 75, 71, 72 (218) Indrajit Bhalotia; 75, 74, 70 (219) Mukesh Kumar; 75, 73, 72 (220) Vijay Kumar.
Amateurs: 72, 69, 72 (213) Amit Luthra; 76, 75, 69 (220) Ashok Kumar; 72, 75, 76 (223) Sheeraz Kalra; 75, 73, 78 (226) Harmeet Sahney; 75, 76, 84 (235) S Bahuguna.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
