Jeev tied sixth at Panasonic Open, Anirban 28th

Shiga Prefecture (Japan): A patient Jeev Milkha Singh hung in on a difficult day to return a one-under 70 and improve to tied sixth place at the end of the third round of the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open title on Saturday.

Jeev is now four-under 209, four shots behind Japan`s Daisuke Maruyama (68). India`s only other challenger, Anirban Lahiri, carded 72 and was placed tied 28th. Jeev played steady golf and was cautious with two birdies and one bogey. He parred each of the nine holes on the front nine and then birdied the tenth but dropped a shot on 14th. A birdie on 16th meant he was under-par, which is where he stayed for the day. Lahiri, who had four birdies and four bogeys, was tied with Ryo Ishikawa (72). "I didn`t hit the ball too well today. I made lovely par saves and I just hung in there and stayed patient. Pins were tough today and I just made one bogey and two birdies for one-under and I think the way I hit the ball today, I would take this score," said Jeev. "I`m going to go out there and give it a go and see what comes my way because I think the pins are going to be tough tomorrow," added the Indian, who has won four times in Japan. Maruyama, who won the title in 2009, posted a three-day total of eight-under-par 205 to take a single shot lead over SK Ho of Korea who struggled with a 73 for a share of second place alongside Japan`s Michio Matsumura on 206. South Africa`s Jbe Kruger carded a 72 for fourth place while Hiroyuki Fujita of Japan signed for a 70 to lie one back in fifth place at the ?150,000,000 (approximately USD 1.7 million) event jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour. PTI