Rahil Gangjee fired six birdies but still submitted a card of two-under 70. Yet it was enough for the Kolkata-based pro to extend his lead to two strokes at the end of the third round of the Rs 800,000 HT Pro Golf 2003, the seventh leg of the Hero Honda Indian Golf Tour at the Classic Golf Resort, in Gurgaon, on Thursday.
The 25-year-old Rahil was sitting pretty with a 54-hole total of 11-under 205. Mukesh Kumar and Digvijay Singh both shot identical one-under par 71 as the overnight lead positions remained unchanged.
Gaurav Ghei was fourth with a total of 212 while Gurbaaz Mann submitted a card of three-under 69 to share the fifth position along with Pappan and SSP Chowrasia, who were a stroke behind Gaurav.
With fierce competition being expected on the final day, it will be a treat for the golfing public to watch some pulsating action.
Overnight leader Rahil went about his task of scoring the birdies from the word `go'. Beginning with a birdie, he added two successive birdies on the third and fourth. However, on the very next hole a par-3, he hit into the bunker over the green and failed to make up and down. On the back nine, he began with a 30-footer birdie despite a bad drive. It was a roller-coaster ride for Rahil who bogey-birdie-bogey on the next three holes while another bogey on the 16th reduced his lead to one-stroke.
However, a commendable birdie on the finishing hole came as much-needed solace. After being in the fairway bunker on his second shot, the diminutive pro hit about 10 feet and made a birdie.
"That birdie gave me the cushion. I will play my natural game and go for as many birdies as I can because I am not a defensive player," said Rahil.
Digvijay Singh, meanwhile, was off-colour today. Parring his way till the fourth, the Meerut pro bogeyed the fifth before recorded his first birdie on the next. With a bogey in the next hole, the 31-year-old took the turn at one-over. However, he reconciled with consecutive birdies on the 14th and 15th to stay two shots behind Rahil.
"It is game of golf and anything can happen. Two strokes is not a big lead to catch up with," said Digvijay.
The `Champion golfer of the year' Mukesh Kumar, despite missing three short birdie putts, managed to convert on the second and sixth while beginning his return journey with also with birdie. However, the 36-year-old pro suffered bogeys on the 11th and 15th to tie with Digvijay.
"I was not happy with my putting," said a dejected Mukesh.
Gurbaaz Mann made five birdies and an eagle on the 18th and yet had a score of 69 to card the day's best along with Vijay Kumar and Amritinder Singh.
Top scores after 54 holes: 205_Rahil Gangjee (69,66,70); 207_Digvijay Singh (68,68,71), Mukesh Kumar (69,67,71); 212_ Gaurav Ghei (69,70,73); 213_ Gurbaaz Mann (72,72,69), Pappan (71,72,70), SSP Chowrasia (70,6974); 214_Vijay Kumar (71,74,69), Vivek Bhandari (72,71,71); 215_Ashok Kumar (71,73,71), Amit Dube (70,74,71); 216_Amritinder Singh (74,73,69).
Amateurs: 226_Aditya Singh (74,74,78).
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