Chandigarh’s Angad Cheema claims lead in golf tourney

City’s Angad Cheema (69-67-69) shot a steady 3-under 69 to move into the lead in round three of the Coal India Open, at the Kensville Golf and Country Club in Ahmedabad. He ended the day with a total score of 11-under 205.

Cheema, who was overnight second being two shots off the lead, made a rock-solid start making pars all through the front-nine. The 35-year-old, the winner of the last PGTI event in April this year, began the back-nine with a bogey on the 10th but came roaring back with four birdies thereafter including three from a range of 10 to 15 feet.

“I played a steady round today hitting all greens in regulation. My putter got hot on the back-nine that helped me sink a lot of long putts. That was the big difference between my front-nine and back-nine,” said Cheema.

He also credited playing the qualifying event of The Open in the UK this summer to helping improve his form, saying, “It was a memorable experience and gave me great international exposure as I competed in a strong field at a links course in conditions totally different from what we’re used to here in India. I would say it benefitted my game a lot.”

Amardeep Malik (69-65-72) of Noida, meanwhile, carded an even-par 72 in the penultimate round to occupy second position at a total of 10-under 206. The overnight leader by two shots, he made three birdies and three bogeys today to drop down to second position. Malik is still within touching distance of the lead being just one shot back.

Meanwhile, another city golfer, Karandeep Kochhar (69-70-69), signed for a 69 to be placed third.

Pune’s Udayan Mane who began the week with a 78 in round one, fired a 66 for the second straight day to make a brilliant comeback and huge strides on the leaderboard. He gained 11 spots today to be placed tied fourth at six-under 210 along with Delhi’s Arjun Prasad (69).

Delhi-based Rakshit Dahiya, the only amateur to make the cut, ended the day in 10th position at two-under 214 following a round of 71. Ahmedabad’s Varun Parikh came up with a 72 to be tied 13th at even-par 216.