Tamsui, Chinese Taipei, 01-10-2022

Rashid Khan in the joint lead after round three of Mercuries Taiwan Masters

Veer Ahlawat in tied eighth

India’s Rashid Khan kept his hopes of a third Asian Tour win alive despite returning a one-over 73 in the third round of the US$1 million Mercuries Taiwan Masters today. Rashid, the halfway leader by four shots, slipped into the joint lead along with Chinese-Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang on day three as the duo had identical totals of 11-under 205.

Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut and Siddikur Rahman from Bangladesh are tied for third, three shots back after scoring 68 and 69 respectively, at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club.

Rashid Khan had started the day with a four-shot lead having returned a 65 on day two and while he will have been disappointed to card a 73, that would have been tempered by the fact that he is still in the lead and in with a chance of his first win on the Asian Tour in eight years.

He struggled on the outward nine unable to make birdies and dropped a shot on seven to make the turn in one over, and when he made bogey on 10 it appeared the chasing pack would overwhelm him. 

Both Chan and Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert led on the back nine, but Khan rallied with birdies on 13 and 15 to stay in the fight.

Rashid said, “I told myself, this is not the golf course which we played for the first two days, so just hang in there. And you know, if you make two or three birdies on last eight holes, you're still fine.

“I mean I'm still playing in the last group, and I have a chance, so I'm just gonna focus on that.”

Khan won both of his Asian Tour titles in 2014 – the SAIL-SBI Open in India, and the Chiangmai Golf Classic, in Thailand – and the signs have been there this season, particularly after a joint runner-up placing in the Mandiri Indonesian Open in August, that the long wait for a third win could be over soon.

Veer Ahlawat (69), placed tied eighth at six-under 210, was the other Indian in the top 10.

Aman Raj and Shiv Kapur were tied 12th at four-under 212 while Ajeetesh Sandhu was a further shot back in tied 15th. SSP Chawrasia was tied 20th at one-under 215.

Source: Asian Tour

Pictures: Asian Tour