Kathmandu: Indian amateur golfer Ashbeer
Saini fired his career-best card of six-under 66 to grab a
four-shot lead after the third round of the Surya Nepal
Masters here today.
The 16-year-old Ashbeer totalled 10-under 206 to stay
four shots clear of local favourite Rupak Acharya, who posted
two-under 70 at the par-72 Gokarna Forest Golf Resort here.
Shiva Ram Shrestha shot three-under 69, his second
consecutive under-par round, to total two-under, one stroke
ahead of fourth-placed Mithun Perera, who shot one-over 73.
Bangladesh's Milon Ahmed carded five-under 67 to move
into fifth place behind Mithun.
Starting level with Ashbeer, Rupak birdied the first hole
to move ahead but the Indian caught him on the next hole with
a 20-footer birdie and went on to take the lead with another
birdie on the par-5 third hole.
But Rupak came back with a birdie and both players picked
up a shot each on the sixth to be tied at seven-under before
Ashbeer turned the game in his favour on the par-5 seventh
after dropping an eagle.
His only blemish came on the next hole, where a poor tee
shot resulted in a bogey but he still made the turn with a
one-shot lead.
He extended the lead on the par-5 12th and followed it up
with five straight pars till the last hole where he dropped a
fine birdie to pull off the best round of his golf career.
"I was very pleased with the way I played today. My best
round before this was a five-under which also came in a
professional tournament," Ashbeer said.
"Today, I was just playing very controlled golf and my
putting was also strong. The eagle on the seventh was my third
in the tournament and that is also something that I have never
done before," he added.
PTI
First Published: Friday, April 23, 2010, 17:50