The Hindu : Sport / Golf : Jeev takes four-shot lead

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Sunday, Dec 03, 2006
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Jeev takes four-shot lead

Tokyo: Jeev Milkha Singh looks all set to win on the Japan Tour for the second successive week as a stunning hat-trick of birdies helped him to open up a four-shot lead after the third round of the Golf Nippon Series JT Cup.

The 34-year-old Indian, who won the Casio World Open last week, is looking for his fourth victory of the year.

Jeev had five birdies and two bogeys and towards the end was content to play calmly rather than taking any chances. His three-under 67 gave him a three-day total of 11-under 199 and a four shot-lead over Wayne Perske (69).

Shingo Katayama, who shared the lead with Jeev after two rounds, went two over 72 and now shares sixth place with six others at 204.

The third co-leader at the mid-way stage, Hiroyuki Fujita (73) was three-over and slipped to tied 10th.

Should Jeev win on Sunday, he will surely make it to the top 50 in the world ranking ensuring that he becomes the first Indian to gain a spot at the Augusta Masters.

Having topped the UBS Asian Tour Order of Merit, Jeev is also assured of a berth at the Open Championships.

Jeev started with three birdies in a row, and after a bogey, added birdies at the sixth and 10th. At this stage, he was 12-under and five shots clear of the field.

However, a bogey on 11th brought him back to the field.

Atwal tied 63rd

At La Quinta, Arjun Atwal carded his best round so far with a two-under 70 but still slipped down seven places to tied 63rd at the midway stage of the sixth round US PGA Tour Qualifying School Finals in California. — Agencies

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