Day 3: Thangaraja in pole position

CHENNAI: N Thangaraja’s strong back-nine ensured he struck a five-under 67 to be in pole position at the end of the third day as the Sri Lankan enjoyed a one-stroke lead at 16-under 200 in the Chennai Open 2022 at the TNGF course here on Thursday.

Manu Gandas’s rear-guard action, including a closing eagle, helped him to a 68, keeping him in contention at 15-under 201. Abhijit Singh Chadha was also in the reckoning following a day’s best of 66 and a closing eagle that took his total to 14-under 202 and placed him third.

Thangaraja (66-67-67), the overnight joint leader, continued to be one of the top contenders after the penultimate round, thanks to his tenacious 67 which featured an eagle, five birdies and two bogeys. The Sri Lankan had a slow front-nine, where his best effort was a superb second shot on the fourth.

Thangaraja then picked up four birdies on the back-nine with some great putting and a good chip to strengthen his claim of the title. “I have been playing so well after a long time, so I just want to keep it going. I have adapted well here (Chennai) as I encounter similar conditions in my home country,” said Thangaraja.

Manu (68-65-68), the joint halfway leader along with Thangaraja, slipped one spot on day three after an up and down round. Manu was even-par for the day through 12 holes, before he rolled in some long birdie putts on the 14th and 17th and set up an eagle with a terrific second shot on the 18th.

Abhijit (71-65-66) moved up one spot to third place, courtesy of his 66. Abhijit’s quality approach shots and wedge-play brought him birdies on the first four holes and the eighth hole for an outstanding front-nine. He then dropped a bogey on the 15th, but more than made up for it with an eagle on the 18th with a brilliant second shot.

Karandeep Kochhar (68) occupied fourth place at 12-under 204 while Khalin Joshi (70) was fifth. Ravi Kumar produced a 66, the day’s joint best, to be tied-sixth at nine-under 207 along with Bangladesh’s Badal Hossain (67). Defending champion Mithun Perera of Sri Lanka was tied-16th at five-under 211.