Macau, 17-10-2015
Anirban Lahiri trails leader Scott Hend by three in Macau, Chiragh Kumar & Rashid Khan also in the chasing pack
Australian Scott Hend soared on the wings of two eagles to shoot a seven-under-par 64 and open up a three-shot lead over defending champion Anirban Lahiri of India after the third round of the Venetian Macao Open on Saturday.
Big-hitting Hend eagled the par five second and 18th holes, the last with a lengthy 30-foot putt, at the Macau Golf and Country Club to set up a repeat of last year’s final day shootout with world number 39 Lahiri, who battled to a 68.
India’s Chiragh Kumar overcame a sore neck to return a 69 for third place, four shots off the pace in the US$1 million Asian Tour tournament while Australian Sam Brazel and another Indian, Rashid Khan will enter the last day five back following rounds of 68 and 69 respectively.
Hend, who won in Macao two years ago and was pipped by Lahiri last season after a memorable final day duel, currently leads on 15-under-198.
Lahiri’s struggles on the greens continued as he needed 30 strokes with his flat stick. The Asian Tour Order of Merit leader chipped in for eagle on eight and then picked up two more shots with tap-ins on 14 and 16.
“I’m glad I hit it to six inches on 14 and six inches on 16. That was the only way I could get the ball into the hole,” said the 28-year-old Lahiri, a seven-time winner on the Asian Tour and looking for a third title for the year.
Last season, the talented Indian overcame a two-shot deficit to beat Hend and knows the Aussie will come out with guns blazing on Sunday. “We had a great time last year. Two years back, he was way ahead and I almost chased him down. Last year I managed to chase him down. He’s probably been waiting for this for a full year. I think we’ll both be ready for it,” said Lahiri.
He knows though that his putter must start behaving. Lahiri endured a disappointing Presidents Cup debut last week where he also struggled on the greens. “I’ve got five or six different putting gadgets out there (practice green) and I think I’m just going to put up a tent and live here tonight,” he said.
“It was very frustrating. Some holes, a little bit to do with the greens getting dry and crusty but most of it was just me. I’m going to have to believe that I’m going to come out and putt great tomorrow. Hopefully I can do that as a three-shot lead is something you don’t want to be giving Scott on this course. He loves it, I love it too.”
Kumar, who was overnight tied second, played for much of his back nine with a sore neck, but is hoping to live up to the old adage “beware the injured golfer” in the final round. “I played okay on the front nine but on the back nine, it was a bit tough. I woke up with a stiff neck and it just jammed up a bit on me on the back nine. I’ll see how it goes tomorrow but Scott is playing really well,” said Kumar, who is seeking a maiden win.
Rashid Khan, currently lying tied fourth, five off the lead, could possibly be the third Indian in contention on the final day. Khan, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, gained four places from his overnight tied eighth, after his 68 on day three.
SSP Chawrasia and Rahil Gangjee were in tied 13th at seven-under-206 while Abhijit Singh Chadha and Gaganjeet Bhullar were in tied 22nd at five-under-208.
Jyoti Randhawa was in joint 48th at even-par-213.
At the European Tour’s Portugal Masters, Jeev Milkha Singh (69-66-73) ended round three in tied 24th place at five-under-208, 13 shots off the lead. His third round of two-over-73 pushed him down 12 places from his overnight tied 12th.
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