Sandhu keeps share of lead

Tamsui (Chinese Taipei), Oct 5

India's Ajeetesh Sandhu struck four birdies and two bogeys for a third round score of 70, sharing the lead with with Philippino Miguel Tabuena at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters golf tournament here today.

While Sandhu (70) battled it out with two-time Asian Tour winner Tabuena (68), another Indian Viraj Madappa shot a 7-under 65, after 72-72 on the first two days, to be tied-fourth.

Thailand's Suradit Yongcharoenchai returned with a 68 and was third. Madappa shared fourth place with Bangladesh's Siddikur Rahman, who posted a 68.

Among other Indians, S Chikkarangappa (74) was tied-15th, while the duo of Khalin Joshi (73) and Rashid Khan (74) were tied-26th. Chiragh Kumar (78) dropped to tied-47th.

Sandhu stumbled early with a bogey on the par-3 second before steadying the ship with birdies on holes 9, 11, 13 and the 15. He then parred the 16th and 17th holes before another bogey on the 18 denied him the outright lead.

Aditi tied-32

Texas: Indian golfer Aditi Ashok mixed three birdies with as many bogeys for an even-par 71 to make the cut at tied-32nd position at the Ladies PGA Tour's Volunteers of America Classic here. Aditi twice birdied and gave away gains on the very next hole on the second and third and then the sixth and seventh. A third time, she bogeyed 15th but birdied 17th to card 71.

Lahiri misses cut

Las Vegas: Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri's disappointing run continued as he shot a 2-over 73 in the second round to miss the cut at the the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open here. Lahiri, thus, missed his third cut in four starts of the new 2019-20 season.

Lahiri, who shot a 2-under 69 in the opening round, ended with a 2-over 73 and at an even-par for 36 holes.

The Indian was way below the cut line, which fell at 4-under. There was a four-way tie for the lead as Lucas Glover, Patrick Cantlay, Brian Stuard, and Kevin Na are tied at 12-under with Matt Jones in fifth spot at 11-under.

Chawrasia makes cut

Madrid:  India's SSP Chawrasia shot an even-par 71 in the second round to make the cut, but it was curtains for compatriot Gaganjeet Bhullar at the Open de Espana golf tournament here.

Chawrasia finally ended his miserable run of seven missed cuts on Friday as he added an even-par 71 to his first round of 70 to get to 1-under 141 to be placed tied-44th. While Chawrasia got into the final two rounds, Bhullar, who was in the top-10 after on Day 1, crashed out with a disappointing 7-over 78 that had five bogeys and one double. It was a horrific second round for Bhullar after being 4-under following the first round. — PTI