The Hindu : Sport / Golf : Khalin Joshi grabs lead

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 24, 2011
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Golf

Khalin Joshi grabs lead

Sports Reporter

Bangalore: Overnight leader S. Chikkarangappa endured another mediocre outing as Khalin Joshi climbed to the top of the board after the third round of the Toyota Corolla Altis Southern India Open amateur golf championship.

Coming off a poor three-over 75 in the second round, Chikkarangappa carded 74 at the KGA course here on Thursday to surrender his two-stroke advantage and slide to second place with an aggregate of 217. Fellow Bangalorean Joshi, third overnight, took full advantage, shooting two-under 70 to establish a two-stroke lead.

Rahul Ravi, meanwhile, slipped from second to fifth place after returning a disappointing card of three-over 75. Kanishk Madan, part of a pack of three players in fourth place on Wednesday, shot even par to jump to second.

On what is his home course, Joshi shot birdies on the second, eighth and ninth holes to card a day-low 33 on the front nine. One of three players — alongside Trishul Chinnappa (68) and S.K. Lakra (71) — to break par on the day, Joshi sank another birdie on the 11th, but bogeys on the 12th and 18th ate into his until-then-substantial lead.

“I am not very happy with the way I played and I think it could have been much better,” the 18-year-old said afterwards. “It was a great grouping as I always enjoy playing with Chikka and Rahul, but I need to concentrate a little more if I want to take this title.”

Chikkarangappa sank birdies on the second and fourth holes but a double bogey on the eighth, followed by another dropped stroke on the next, cost him dear.

“My putting was way off the mark again,” he admitted. “But I know that all golfers suffer from a dip in form and I'm sure I'll make a comeback. Also, there is a difference of only two strokes between me and Khalin and I like to play with this kind of challenge.”

The results (top eight after 54 holes): Khalin Joshi 217 (75, 72, 70); S. Chikkarangappa 219 (70, 75, 74); Kanishk Madan 221 (74, 75, 72); Abhijit Chadha 222 (76, 73, 73); Rahul Ravi 222 (75, 72, 75); R. Marimuthu 223 (75, 76, 72); Angad Cheema 224 (75, 74, 75); Siddharth Semwal 225 (76, 76, 73) .

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport