While the going was good for Kumar, the next best score was one-under 71 by Delhi's Dinesh Kumar. In joint third place were Gaurav Ghei, Indrajit Bhalotia, Shiv Prakash and Devendra Kumar at par 72.

Kumar had eight birides, beginning with the first, second and fourth. On his way away, he duffed a tee shot on the fifth resulting in a bogey. But with his fourth birdie coming on the seventh with a superb 10 feet putt, he finished his front nine at three under. On his way back, Kumar fired birdies on the 12th, 14th, 15th and 17th, three of which came through 10-feet putts.

The revelation of the day was Dinesh Kumar. After a bogey on the third, he birdied on the fourth, seventh and 13th, with another bogey on the ninth.

Among amateurs, Jasjit Singh and Rakesh Sharma were at the top with eight-over 80 each.

Scores: 66 Vijay Kumar; 71 Dinesh Kumar; 72 Shiv Prakash, Indrajit Bhalotia, Gaurav Ghei, Devender Kumar Verma; 73 Amandeep Johl, Uttam Singh Mundy, Sanjay Kumar.