Chandigarh lad Akshay remains front runner on Day 3

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 5

Local lad Akshay Sharma continued as the front runner in the title race on the Day 3 of the ongoing Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) Jeev Milkha Singh Invitational 2020.

The 31-year-old Sharma, overnight leader by one shot, carded a hard-fought 1-under-71 at Chandigarh Golf Club to take his tournament total to 10-under-206.

Noida’s Amardeep Malik, who was overnight tied second, also returned a 71, to be placed second at 9-under-207.

Pre-tournament favourite Anirban Lahiri (70) gained two spots to occupy tied third at 8-under-208 along with Patna’s Aman Raj (68) and Gurugram’s Veer Ahlawat (72). While Aman gained seven spots in the round three, Veer dropped one spot.

Chandigarh’s Karandeep Kochhar produced the round’s best score for the second day in succession as he shot a 67 to rise 12 positions to sixth place at 7-under-209.

Order of Merit leader Udayan Mane (72) of Pune, Bengaluru’s Chikkarangappa (70) and Delhi-based teenaged rookie Harshjeet Singh Sethie (73) were all tied seventh at 6-under-210.

Among other prominent names, SSP Chawrasia (70) was tied 21st at 1-under-215, Gaganjeet Bhullar (74) was tied 36th at 2-over-218 and Jyoti Randhawa (73) was tied 42nd at 3-over-219.

“The weather conditions were the toughest today, especially when I started. It was extremely windy so club selection was difficult and that resulted in bogeys for me. On the front-nine, I found only four greens in regulation and just couldn’t hit it close enough,” said Sharma.

Malik (68-68-71), another two-time winner on the PGTI, came up with an eagle, three birdies and four bogeys during his 71 to keep himself in the hunt. He also closed the day in style with a birdie chip-in on the 18th from behind the green.

Raj will be the third player in the leader group on Sunday, thanks to his bogey-free effort of 68.