Lahiri struggles in round 3, falls to 32nd with Bhullar, Kapur

Crans Montana (Switzerland): India`s Anirban Lahiri struggled as he carded a four-over 75 that saw him tumble down from overnight tied eighth to joint 32nd at the end of the penultimate round of Omega European Masters here on Saturday.

Lahiri, who opened the week with an eighth-under 63, is now four-under 209 for three rounds and 12 shots behind the new leader, Lee Craig, who carded a stunning round of 11-under 61. Shiv Kapur (70) and Gaganjeet Bhullar (70) are also tied 32nd with Lahiri as all other Indians have missed the cut. Lahiri`s steep fall came through five bogeys and a double bogey with just three birdies to compensate for them. He recorded three birdies and three bogeys on the front nine and then suffered two more bogeys and a double bogey on closing 18th to go down the leaderboard. Meanwhile, a first sub-par round of 60 in the history of The European Tour evaded Craig Lee but the Scot still led the Omega European Masters after his brilliant 61. The Scot incredibly birdied eight times on the front nine, his streak only ended by a par on seven, to fly up the leaderboard. He picked up a further shot at ten and, following a par at the next, looked in good shape to make history. Lee was to pay the price for a poor tee shot on 11 and ultimately holed a ten footer to escape with bogey. Yet he found the perfect riposte when moving back at nine under for the round following a stunning tee shot on the par three 13th. Lee benefited from a positive second shot just short of the green to pick up another on the 14th, yet could only par in thereafter. However, that did not detract from a stunning performance that left him two strokes ahead of Victor Dubuisson, Alejandro Ca?izares and Thomas Bjorn on 16 under heading into the final round. Lee said: "It was comfortably my best round ever. Even as an amateur or in a bounce game, I`ve never managed to get to double figures. "So this is my best round by far. You just try to focus on each shot you play though. When you hit it and it is executed properly and you see it flying down the pin, it is pretty special. "For the first 12 or 13 holes that was what was happening. It was pretty surreal to see all these good golf shots coming out in the same day. I`ve been playing quite nicely for a while so it has all come together." Lee added: "I would like to have had a heart rate monitor on. From the first I don`t think my heart got under 100bpm." Dubuisson made two eagles, on the seventh and 15th, and as many birdies to offset his dropped shots on the second and last in a 66. While Lee being unable to make history ultimately represented a disappointment for some of those in attendance, England`s Richard Finch produced a memorable moment when producing a hole in one on the par three 13th. Finch dropped a six iron in dead weight to win an Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Co-Axial in red gold, worth CHF 16,950. Thailand`s Thongchai Jaidee is ready to launch an all-out final assault after he grinded out a third round one-under-par 70. Thongchai started off strongly with three birdies in his opening five holes to reach the turn in 33. However, he returned those shots on holes 10, 13 and 17 before a closing birdie on the closing 18th provided a much-needed relief. Thongchai continued to spearhead the Thai charge as Pariya Junhasavasdikul (72), Kiradech Aphibarnrat (74) and Chapchai Nirat (70) all failed to make any gains on the leaderboard. PTI