Akshay maintains lead in Chandigarh

Chandigarh, December 5

Chandigarh’s Akshay Sharma continued to maintain the lead on the third day of the Jeev Milkha Singh Invitational 2020, carding a 1-under 71 on Saturday.

Akshay, the overnight leader by one shot, has now an aggregate score of 10-under 206 at the Rs 1.5-crore event.

Noida’s Amardeep Malik, who was overnight tied second, also shot a 71, is one shot behind Akshay 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 third round, 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 climb 12 spots to sixth place at 7-under 209.

PGTI 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 the 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.

Akshay (67-68-71) found himself in a hole when he dropped early bogeys on the 1st and 4th, not being able to strike it accurately due to the wind.

However, he got in his stride with a 20-feet birdie conversion from just off the green on the 10th.

Akshay then picked up birdies on the 13th and 14th, sinking a 35-feet putt on the latter to tilt the balance in his favour.

Akshay finally made a good chip-putt for a par on the 15th to keep his nose ahead of the rest. PTI