Heavy rains last evening once again left parts of the golf course resembling tiny islands in the Pacific. Eight of the holes were a write-off as far as the day's play was concerned and the remaining ten holes were played to a par 39. The golfers were once again given the option of preferred lies on the slushy course.

Basad, who went one under on the opening day, careered through the second day to lead the field with an impressive six under 95 after the first two rounds.

The Calcutta pro, who has been hanging at the top without really winning too much in recent years, said that his second shot, which was far more controlled today, made the difference.

Basad slammed birdies in the fourth, fifth,ninth, 15th and 18th holes to ease yesterday's leaders, Dinesh Raghuvanshi and Jyothi Randhawa, from the top.

In the fifth, a par-5, Basad sandwedged to 12 feet for another birdie putt. The ninth was another par-5 hole and Basad's 8-iron approach took him to about eight feet to the left of the cup.

It was this kind of approach and putting in the 15th and 18th holes that destroyed the hopes of the others on the day.

The last time that Basad Ali won anything of note was in the season-ending Cynamide Open in Calcutta early this year. That win ended a three-year drought (He won the Grindlays Open in 1995 in Calcutta). Basad's performance over the next two days would be keenly followed, for if he continues in today's rampant fashion, he will be the player to beat.

Meanwhile the cut was made at six-over 107 and 42 players made it to the next stage.

Overnight leaders, Jyothi Randhawa and Raghuvanshi, each shot a one-over 40 to finish the second round on a joint second (99). They were joined in the secondspot by Shivprakash and Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia. The former returned a one under 38 while the latter went three under today to complement his opening day's one over.

Randhawa blamed his putting for letting him down today.

Raghuvanshi's card was ruined by a triple bogey on the par-three fourth hole. His 8-iron went into the bunker. He came out with a chip, but three-putted to make a hash of it. The birdies on the 8th and 9th (The ninth hole approach placed him less than a foot off the cup) were off-set by the triple bogey as he finished one over.

Mumbai's Manohar Dike shot a three under today and then claimed that he was used to playing in rainy conditions in his home town.

The biggest threat to the tournament, of course, is from the rains. The organisers plan to play the last two rounds over 18 holes each. They would play twice on the nine holes which are elevated on the morrow, if needed, to ensure that they get 18 holes.

Top golfers after second day (26 holes; par62+39=101)

Professionals: 95 - Basad Ali (61+34); 99 - Jyothi Randhawa (59+40), Dinesh Raghuvanshi (59+40), Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia (63+36), Shiv Prakash (61+38); 100 - Arjun Singh (62+38), Amandeep Singh Johl (61+39), Gast Ram (62+38); 101 - Feroz Ali (62+39), Vishal Singh (63+38), Rohtas Singh (63+38), Uttam Singh Mundy (62+39), Mohd. Islam (61+40), Yusuf Ali (63+38), Anthony Raphael (61+40)

Amateurs: 103 - Rahul Ganapathy (64+39), 104 - Tarun Sardesai (62+42); 105 - Amitabh Podar (65+40); 110 - Arjun Ramesh (70+40); Sripada Renu (67+43); 111 - Gaurav Dewan (71+40).