The Hindu : Sport / Golf : Randhawa joint second after hat-trick of birdies

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Sunday, Feb 04, 2007
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Randhawa joint second after hat-trick of birdies

Dubai: Jyoti Randhawa hit a hat-trick of birdies to move to tied second spot on the third day of the Dubai Desert Classic. The 34-year-old Indian played 26 holes on Saturday and came out with flying colours at the Emirates Golf Club. Randhawa, whose sensational hat-trick of birdies came on the 16th, 17th and 18th holes, was two strokes behind three-time champions Ernie Els who was on top at 17-under 199. Randhawa shared the second place with Dubai-based Swede Henrik Stenson (69) and Ross Fisher, who shot a 71 after two successive 65s.

Two late birdies for Ernie Els helped him snatch a two-shot lead. Els recorded a total of six birdies and two bogeys to shoot a four-under 68 in breezy conditions.

The 37-year-old Els must now subdue Woods on the final day, with the red-hot American just behind Randhawa, Stenson and Fisher and firmly in the hunt to claim his 10th title from 13 starts after carding a 67 for 202.

At the end of the second round, which was only completed on Saturday, Fisher had been in the lead at 14-under, while Els was just one behind at 13-under after a second round of seven-under 65.

Jyoti Randhawa and Jeev Milkha Singh were the only Indians to make the cut while Harmeet Kahlon fell short.

Asked if he would keep a close eye on Woods's progress on Sunday, Els told reporters: ``It is important to play your game, to concentrate on what you do. I've just got to shoot somewhere in the middle-60s and hopefully I should be okay. But you also like to see what other players are doing, especially Tiger. You know he could get red-hot at any time.''

Mann in fourth place

At Manila, Gurbaaz Mann shot a four-under 68 to make a giant leap to sole fourth place on the third day of the Philippine Open.

The 24-year old was 36th overnight and his 3-under 213 overall has put him in a perfect position to post his first career top-10 finish on the Asian Tour.

Local hero Frankie Minoza shot a five-under 67 to move closer to his second title with the third round lead.

Digvijay Singh, seventh overnight, overcame a nightmarish start to finish with 75 for a total of even par 216 after three rounds. He's now tied 10th.

Uttam Singh Mundy (76) was lying 47th at five-over 221 while Arjun Singh (75) was eight-over 224 and tied 63rd.

At Scottsdale, despite a bogey on the final hole, Daniel Chopra comfortably made the halfway cut at the FBR Open after a second round of even par 71.

Chopra stood at five-under 137 following his 66 on the first day and was lying 28th. There were 18 players still to finish the second round, which was suspended due to darkness. Local man Jeff Quniey shot an 8-under 63 in the second round to take a three-shot lead. Quinney had nine birdies and one bogey on the 7,216-yard layout, where start of play was delayed due to frost. Chopra started on the first and had five straight pars before a bogey on the sixth. However, a birdie on the eighth ensured that Chopra turned in even par.

Billy Mayfair and Bart Bryant were three shots off the lead at 10-under 132 after shooting 66 each in the second round. — Agencies

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