Internet Desk: For a better part of the third round, Jyoti Randhawa seemed out of form, before recovering with two birdies in last four holes for a round of 74 in the Resorts World Manila Masters on Saturday.
That saw Randhawa, the leader for first two days slip to Tied-third, where he had fellow Indian, SSP Chawrasia (71) for company at 13-under. The lead switched to Thailand’s Sutijet Kooratanapisan as he carded a three-under-par 69. Sutijet overcame a two-shot deficit at the start of the day to take his place atop the leaderboard with his three-day total of 16-under-par 200 at the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club.
The 17-year-old teen sensation Phachara Khongwatmai of Thailand showed his mettle once again by making his move with a 69 to take second place. A shot behind Chawrasia and Randhawa was Gaganjeet Bhullar (69) moved to seventh at 12-under, while S Chikkrangappa (70) was at 11-under in Tied-12th place.
Shiv Kapur (68) and Chiragh Kumar (69) also made handsome gains and were Tied-17th at 10-under, as six Indians were placed inside Top-20. Shubhankar Sharma (69) was Tied-35th and Jeev Milkha Singh (74th was Tied-62nd. Chawrasia withstood the challenging windy conditions by mixing his card with three bogeys and four birdies to put himself in the mix for his first win abroad.
“I didn’t hit and putt the ball as well as compared to the last two days. The winds picked up in the afternoon which made play really challenging. There’s still another day left at this event and I’m looking forward to finishing off the week well.”
With all his four Asian Tour victories coming from home soil, the 38-year-old is eager to clinch his first title overseas, having put himself into a good position where he is just three shots back of Sutijet. “I want to win outside India and that’s my next goal. That’s my focus and I’ll try my best,” said Chawrasia.
Sutijet plans to adopt an all-out attack in his quest for his first Asian Tour title, having come so close to a win in Bangladesh at the start of the year.
“My plan tomorrow is to attack the fairways and greens. I’ll be aggressive. I don’t want to think too much as that will give me added pressure. I’ve to stay patient and stick to my game plan,” said Sutijet.
Randhawa who was bogey free for 36 holes on first two days dropped a double bogey on second and had bogeys on ninth and 12th. The birdies on 15th and 18th gave him some relief but there is some way still to go.
In another tournament in Mexico, Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri moved up a dozen places with a fine four-under 67 to be tied 24th at the PGA TOUR’s OHL Classic at Mayakoba.
Lahiri is now six-under for the tournament in his first start in US in the 2017 wrap around season.
Gary Woodland birdied three of the final four holes Friday for a six-under 65 and a one-stroke lead at the halfway stage. Woodland played the first 36 holes without a bogey, following an opening 64 to get to 13-under 129 on Mayakoba’s Greg Norman-designed El Camaleon course. He won the last of his two TOUR titles in 2013.
Playing in Mexico for the first time in his career, Lahiri was happy with his game and said, “I have been playing solid this week, though I missed a few opportunities to shoot much lower. I love the lay out and the pass-palm grass on the course, which is so similar to Asia, so feeling right at home. Hope I can finish well on weekend.”
He did rue the fact he did not score better on par-fives. He added, “I did not take advantage of par 5s and a couple of short par-4s coming in. One wayward drive on 12 led to a couple of conservative tee shots on 13 and 14. But still overall, it was solid. If the putter gets hot then one can go really low.”