ROUND 1
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New Delhi, May 14, 2009: C Muniyappa of Bangalore and Lucknow’s Vijay Kumar are the joint leaders after round two of the DDA Open Golf Championship. Muniyappa and Vijay have an identical total of eight under 132. While Muniyappa produced the day’s best round, a six under 64, to climb from overnight tied 13th into the joint lead, Vijay worked his way to the top with a two under 68. Mandeo Singh Pathania, who also shot 64 in round two, shares third place with first round leader Amardip Sinh Malik at seven under 133.

The cut was declared at two over 142. Fifty-four professionals and one amateur made the cut.

C Muniyappa (68, 64), a winner on the PGTI in the 2007-08 season, had many moments of brilliance during his second round on Thursday. He started well, picking up birdies on the 11th, 12th, 14th and 16th. The Bangalore-based professional converted a 30 feet putt for birdie on the 14th.

Muniyappa’s first bogey of the day came on the first. He then chipped-in for eagle from 25 yards on the par four fourth hole to make a move on the leaderboard once again. A bogey followed on the fifth but the 32-year-old ended his round on a high with consecutive birdies on the eighth and ninth.

“I began the day with eight under as my target but after the birdies started coming my way on the first nine, I think I got a little too excited too soon and made some mistakes to drop a couple of bogeys on the second nine. My best effort today was the eagle on the fourth, where I hit a 300-yard drive to the left of the green and then chipped-in from 25 yards. I did not hit the ball very close today but my putting was excellent,” said Muniyappa.

Vijay Kumar (64, 68), the joint leader along with Muniyappa, was going great guns on his first nine (10th – 18th) as he sank an eagle on the par five 16th and followed that up with a birdie on the 17th.

However, some ordinary hitting on the second nine, brought Vijay back to level par for the day after he bogeyed the first, sixth and seventh. He closed the round on a positive note, making birdies on the eighth and ninth.

Vijay said, “I was hitting the ball really well on the first nine. In fact, I had a near-perfect drive on the 16th that led to an eagle. But there was a complete turnaround on the second nine where I dropped three bogeys as a result of some ordinary hitting.” Mandeo Singh Pathania’s (69, 64) fabulous 64 on day two propelled him from overnight tied 24th to tied third at seven under 133. Pathania’s round was punctuated by an eagle on the 16th, six birdies and two bogeys.

Amardip Sinh Malik (62, 71), the round one leader, slipped into tied third place as a result of his one over 71 on Thursday. Malik had four birdies against five bogeys in the second round as he struggled with his putting. Ashok Kumar, Ajeetesh Sandhu and R Murthy share fifth place at six under 134.

Mukesh Kumar, the 2007-08 PGTI Order of Merit winner, is currently placed tied 10th at four under 136. Digvijay Singh lies tied 16th at two under 138.

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