Date:13/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/13/stories/2008091356401800.htm

Sport - Golf

Bhullar closer to maiden title

GURGAON: Gaganjeet Bhullar took a giant leap towards winning his maiden professional title when he shot a six-under 66 for a five-stroke lead after the third and penultimate round of the AIS Open golf tournament at the Golden Greens golf course here on Friday.

Bhullar, who started the day with one-shot lead, collected birdies on the second and third holes and found par all the way, leading to a four-birdie blitz beginning from the 12th hole. Some exceptional hitting helped him reach 16 greens on regulation.

First-day leader Rahul Ganapathy retained the second spot with a card of 70 that included five birdies and three bogeys. Ajeetesh Sandhu, who returned a 70 and an 80 on the first two days, fired the day’s best 64 for a share of the 12th spot.

The scores: Gaganjeet Bhullar (70, 63, 66) 199; Rahul Ganapathy (67, 67, 70) 204; Ashok Kumar (68, 71, 68), Feroz Ali Mollah (68, 68, 71) 207; Uttam Singh Mundy (71, 67, 72) 210; Gaurav Ghei (70, 73, 68) 211; Digvijay Singh (68, 69, 75) 212; Chirag Kumar (70, 74, 69), C. Muniyappa (71, 73, 69), Gaurav Diwan (69, 72, 72) and Vikrant Chopra (70, 71, 72) 213; Raj Randhawa (72, 68, 74) and Ajeetesh Sandhu (70, 80, 64) 214; Vijay Kumar (74, 72, 70), Deepinder Singh Kullar (74, 71, 71), Mukesh Kumar (70, 72, 74) and Harendra P. Gupta (70, 72, 74) 216.