Thaindian News

Hua Hin (Thailand), March 28 (IANS) Anirban Lahiri shot a superb five-under 67 and rocketed into contention at the $500,000 Black Mountain Masters Asian Tour golf.
Lying 15th overnight, Lahiri moved to tied fourth at 10-under 206, three shots behind sole leader, Johan Edfors (71). Tied in second place were Jason King (69) and Chris Rodgers (67) at 11-under.

The other Indians in the fray were Gaganjeet Bhullar (70) tied 33rd at four-under 212, Rahil Gangjee (71) at three-under 213 in tied 42nd and Himmat Rai (70) at two-under 214.

Lahiri opened with a par and then birdied the second hole. But it was the eagle on the par-5 sixth that had him zooming ahead. He birdied the 10th, but dropped a bogey on 11th and then had birdies on 16th and 18th.

The 21-year-old Lahiri charged into contention, just days after making a change in his putting technique. “I did not think I would have caught up with the leaders but they were coming back which was surprising,” he said.

“I putted horribly Thursday and Friday. I made a change with my stroke and stood a bit more upright and the shots fell in place. I started making those five, six footers.”

Edfors brilliantly birdied his closing two holes for a two-shot lead after the third round. The 33-year-old overcame a mid-round wobble before bouncing back to hold onto the lead.

An outrageous 40-foot birdie conversion from the fringe of the 17th green saw Edfors go back into the lead and he gave himself a cushion into Sunday’s final round with a birdie on the par-five 18th.

Rodgers moved from 10th to second with six birdies and one bogey while Chris Gaunt had the best round of the day at 66 despite a double bogey on 12th. He had eight other birdies.

Thongchai Jaidee (67) was another one to shoot low scores and moved to tied sixth at nine-under.

Countryman Chapchai Nirat, who posted a record 32-under-par victory at the SAIL Open in India last week, three-putted on 18th to settle for a 71 which left him in tied 10th place on 208.