Hong Kong, 24-10-2015
Lahiri occupies third place after round three of UBS Hong Kong Open
India’s Anirban Lahiri lurked closely in third place, four off the lead, after a sparking back-nine saw the Asian Tour Order of Merit leader surge up the leaderboard with a five-under-65 at the UBS Hong Kong Open. Anirban’s total score read 11-under-199.
England’s Justin Rose and Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard shared the third round lead at 15-under-195 at the Hong Kong Golf Club.
India’s Jeev Milkha Singh also posted a 65 to grab a share of fourth place at 10-under-200 at the US$2 million event which is sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.
Lahiri, who had a quiet day with a front-nine 34, burst into life by racing home with five birdies in his inward-nine to move himself into contention for his eighth Asian Tour title.
“I was not very focused on the front nine. But I calmed down a little bit and by the eighth, ninth hole, I started hitting it a little more solid. It was good to get birdies on 10 and 11 as they got me into the right zone mentally. I was just focusing on giving myself opportunities, and it was good.
“You want to get as close as possible, because if it gets into a match-play position, then they can play totally differently and separate themselves from the field. But hopefully I can play some good golf, play 18 holes tomorrow like I did on the back nine and maybe have a sniff,” said Lahiri.
Singh also turned on the afterburners in his back-nine after struggling with an outward 35.
The Asian Tour honorary member fired three successive birdies from 10 before going on to pick up three more birdies in his last four holes.
“Honestly it was a shaky start but got my bearings right after I made two birdies. But what got me going was on the 10th hole, I got very lucky. It jumped over the water and stayed up. I chipped it to about two feet and birdied it.
“I'm in better shape and I'm working a lot on my mental side. I think everything should fall in place and I’m ready to see what comes my way,” said Singh.
Gaganjeet Bhullar fired a third round 67 to be tied ninth at eight-under-202 while Rahil Gangjee was in tied 15th at six-under-204.
SSP Chawrasia was tied 35th at three-under-207 and Jyoti Randhawa was a further shot behind in tied 44th.
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