Bangkok: Gaganjeet Bhullar remained in the
hunt for a top-five finish, carding a third successive
one-under 71 for a share of the ninth spot after the
penultimate round of the USD 300,000 Asian Tour International
here today.
Bhullar's three-day total stands at three-under 213 at
the Suwan Golf and Country Club here.
"I thought it could be better but the way I was making
mistakes, I deserve a 71. I putted better today but the putts
are not falling in. It's just a matter of time before it all
comes together," said the young Kapurathala-pro, who picked up
three birdies against a couple of bogeys in the third round.
Bhullar's front nine was a subdued affair and save for a
seventh-hole bogey, he parred all the holes to make the turn
one-over.
The back-nine was a lot more fruitful as Bhullar sank in
birdies on the 11th, 14th and 15th holes. But he couldn't sign
it off too well as he dropped a stroke on the 18th.
Despite being four strokes off the pace, Bhullar said he
could still win the title with some final day fireworks.
"I'm currently four shots back and on this golf course,
that's quite a big gap but you just don't know. I remember
Rick Kulacz shooting a 63 to win the Selangor Masters in
Malaysia last year where the greens were also very firm. So it
can be done," he said. Meanwhile, Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat shot a superb
eagle on the last hole to open up a two-shot lead. Chasing a
maiden Asian Tour victory, the 20-year-old produced a
three-under 69.
Korea's Hwang Inn-choon carded the day's best of 67 to
move to second place while Singaporean Lam Chih Bing signed
for a 71 to lie tied third with American rookie David Johnson,
who shot a 69.
Leading third round scores:
207 - Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA) 68-70-69
209 - Hwang Inn-choon (KOR) 72-70-67
210 - David Johnson ( USA ) 71-70-69, Lam Chih Bing (SIN)
69-70-71
211 - Tetsuji Hiratsuka (JPN) 71-72-68, Jbe Kruger (RSA)
70-72-69, Angelo Que (PHI) 74-67-70, Piya Swangarunporn (THA)
70-72-69
213 - Siddikur (BAN) 70-74-69, Antonio Lascuna (PHI) 70-72-71,
Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) 71-71-71, Kenichi Kuboya (JPN)
73-69-71, Thammanoon Srirot (THA) 72-69-72.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, February 06, 2010, 17:00