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Day 1

October 9th 2009, New Delhi: PGTI member C Muniyappa from Bangalore, upstaged the stars and made it the finest hour in his career to date when he took a share of the halfway lead in the US$1.25 million Hero Honda Indian Open today.

The 32 year old, in his first season on the Asian Tour, shot a three-under-par 69 to top the leader board along with Korean Lee Sung.
The pair on nine-under-par 135 lead by a stroke from Adam Blyth of Australia and India’s Digvijay Singh. They returned rounds of 72 and 68 respectively.

The cut was declared at one over 145. Twenty-two Indians made the cut.
Muniyappa’s performance has put him in the spotlight and will give the galleries plenty to cheer about on day three.

“I have learned a lot from playing in Asian Tour events overseas this year and it has given me a lot of confidence. I think that is showing this week. I really am trying to focus on keeping my card this year so to be leading is an extra bonus,” said Muniyappa, who plays his golf at the Karnataka Golf Association golf course in Bangalore.

He is currently in 97th position on the Asian Tour Order of Merit with earnings of US$17,391 having played in ten events.

Muniyappa started his round on the back nine and started poorly with a bogey on the 14th. However, he made a quick fire recovery with birdies on the next two holes and on the front nine birdied two and six.

Digvijay Singh came up with his second successive 68 to be tied third at eight under 136. He hit a good pitch from 75 yards that lipped out on the 15th but nevertheless earned him a birdie. Another good pitch from 40 yards set up an easy birdie putt (3 feet) for him on the sixth.

Digvijay said, “My hitting has been decent over the last two days. My wrist injury has not hampered my game this week but it’s there at the back of my mind all the time. I just hope it holds up over the next two days.”

Mukesh Kumar lies tied ninth along with Sweden’s Daniel Chopra at five under 139. Harendra Gupta and Raju Ali Mollah are a further stroke behind in tied 14th.

Arjun Atwal, Karanjit Sandhu, Amandeep Johl and Vinod Kumar are all placed tied 19th at three under 141.

Gaganjeet Bhullar is tied 48th with an overall score of even par 144.

Courtesy: Nikhil Kalaan 

C. Muniyappa