Chandigarh’s Angad, Thangaraja share lead

Chandigarh’s Angad Cheema submitted a card of 5-under 65 to gain one spot and emerge co-leader at the Telangana Golconda Masters at the Hyderabad Golf Association (HGA). Sri Lankan N Thangaraja, overnight leader by four shots, posted a 1-under 69 in round three to share the lead along with Cheema at a total of 14-under 196.

Kolkata’s Shankar Das returned the day’s best score of 64 to gain 12 spots and end the day in tied third position at 12-under 198. TATA Steel PGTI Ranking leader Veer Ahlawat’s 66 saw him rise two places to tied third. Cheema (68-63-65), who was overnight tied second and four behind leader Thangaraja, came within sniffing distance of the lead early in the day thanks to his four birdies over the first six holes where he landed a couple of approach shots within three feet of the pin.

A bogey on the 10th couldn’t halt Cheema’s progress as his ball-striking precision continued on the Par-4 14th where he drove the back edge of the green to pick up another stroke.

Cheema, who won a title each on the PGTI and the PGTI Feeder Tour in his rookie season in 2013, grabbed the sole lead with a chip-in for eagle on the 17th. However, a bogey on the closing 18th saw Angad drop back into the joint lead.

Four-time PGTI winner Thangaraja (65-62-69) started well as he converted two short birdie putts on the first five holes. A couple of missed chip-putts then cost him two bogeys. A birdie on the 13th ensured he ended the day as joint leader. Karan Pratap Singh (67) and Saarthak Chhibber (68) were tied for fifth at 11-under 199.