Bengaluru, 11-08-2018
Khalin Joshi produces ‘birthday special' seven-under-64 in round three to get one behind leader Carballo at TAKE Solutions Masters
- Three Indians, including Chikka and Madappa in Top-5
- Five Indians, including Chawrasia and Baisoya in Top-10
India’s Khalin Joshi produced a ‘birthday special’, a flawless seven-under-64, at his home course, the KGA, on Saturday, to rise to tied second in round three of the Asian Tour and PGTI joint-sanctioned TAKE Solutions Masters.
Joshi (67-69-64), who turned 26 on Saturday, totalled 13-under-200 after the penultimate round and trailed the leader Miguel Carballo (67) of Argentina by one shot. Bengaluru-based Joshi shared second place with Thailand’s Danthai Boonma (72), who was the overnight leader by five shots.
Khalin, still searching for his maiden Asian Tour win, will be looking to improve on his runner-up finish at inaugural edition of the tournament last year.
There was a strong Indian presence in the top-10 with young guns Viraj Madappa and Chikkarangappa tied for fourth at 12-under-201 and the seasoned SSP Chowrasia in tied sixth at 11-under-202 along with another youngster Honey Baisoya.
Joshi had seven bogeys and hit a purple patch in the middle of the round, when he birdied four in a row from 9th to the 12th. During that period he had five birdies in a stretch of six holes from 7th to 12th.
Joshi missed just one fairway and two greens but had no bogeys and said, “I played really well today. What's more important is that I played bogey free. That was my key. I think I'm in a good position for tomorrow, so I'm really excited.
“There's a lot of golf still left, 18 holes to go. But I have put myself in a good position. That's all I was expecting this week - to just give myself a fair chance going into Sunday.
“I want to play my own game and not look at anybody. I had set myself a target of 20-under and hopefully I can achieve it. Playing 7-under tomorrow will be great.
“Shubhankar and I spoke about it and he said you shoot 20-under. I spoke to my caddie as well and he said you shoot 20-under and you'll win! For me it was always a goal to shoot 20-under this week,” added Khalin, who climbed six spots from his overnight tied eighth.
Viraj Madappa, playing only his second season as a professional, carded a classy 66 to join Chikkarangappa (68) in tied fourth, two shots behind the leader.
Madappa, staring at his best ever finish on the Asian Tour, said, “It was great playing with Khalin and Honey (Baisoya). It felt like a PGTI event because I have been playing with them. I was just feeding off their energy, because on the front 9 they kept hitting good shots and kept making putts. I was just trying to keep up.
“I told myself to just stay with Khalin because he got hot from the 7th to the 12th. I too had a good stretch between the 11th and 18th with five birdies.”
Honey Baisoya, the current PGTI Order of Merit leader, produced one of the highlights of the third day when he struck a hole-in-one on the eighth. It helped him post a top-notch 66, which also included four birdies and a bogey. He was 11-under alongside Chowrasia (68).
Baisoya said, “For the hole-in-one, it was a pitching wedge from 135 yards. The hole-in-one felt amazing. It was the first hole-in-one of my life. I hit a really good shot and after that I just blacked out for a minute. Felt very happy.
“I played the practice round with Khalin and he made a hole-in-one on the 4th hole. So I told him that you have to give us a party. And then I made a hole-in-one today, and he said that now you have to give me a treat and I told him we are even.”
There were six more Indians between T-11th and T-15th. Om Prakash Chouhan (67) was T-11th, while 19-year-old Karandeep Kochhar (67), who won a pro event while being an amateur, was 14th. Veer Ahlawat (69), M Dharma (65), Aman Raj (69) and Sunit Chowrasia (69), nephew of SSP Chawrasia, were all T-15.
About PGTI:
Formed in 2006, Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) is the recognised official body of professional golf in India. PGTI's objective is to promote professional golf in the country, as well as to give players an opportunity to be involved in the decision making on all aspects of the game. Headed by Mr. Kapil Dev (President), PGTI's governing body comprises leading Indian golf professionals. PGTI currently has over 300 members.
For information on PGTI, please contact:
Nikhil Kalaan
Media Manager - PGTI
Mobile: 9910974846
Email: media@pgtofindia.com
