Harendra Gupta enjoys two-stroke lead after three rounds

PANCHKULA - Chandigarhs Harendra Gupta fired a four-under 68 at the Panchkula Golf Club here Saturday to take a two-stroke lead ahead of the final round of the Haryana Open 2009. Gupta finished round three with 12 under 204.

Mandeo Singh Pathania, the overnight leader, slipped to second place with 10-under 206 as a result of his 73 in the third round.

Gupta (67, 69, 68) began with a birdie on the first but his putt lipped out on the third, where he ended up dropping a stroke. Gupta then hit some quality approach shots on the eighth, 10th and 11th to set up relatively easy birdie putts.

The local favourite kept up the pressure with some steady golf even as adversary Pathania seemed to struggle with his game Saturday. Gupta made his final birdie of the day on the 15th with the help of a 310-yard drive which found the centre of the fairway. This was also his best drive of the day.

“I was very consistent today. I made 14 regulations and hit 12 fairways. My swing has not been very steady but fortunately I enjoy the advantage of local knowledge at this course. Since I am based at Chandigarh, I have played here more often as compared to many other golfers on the tour,” said Gupta.

Pathania (70, 63, 73) was a little out of sorts on the front nine. He three-putted for bogey on the third and then managed to pull a stroke back with a birdie on the fourth. Another three-putt on the ninth led to a double bogey.

Pathania fought back by making eagle-birdie on the 11th and 12th. He chipped-in from the greenside bunker to make eagle on the 11th for the second successive day. A bogey and double bogey followed on the 13th and 15th before he sank a 20-footer for birdie on the 17th.

Pathania said, “Todays round was nothing like what I managed yesterday. I did not drive well and my putter did not produce the desired results. The only bright spot was the chip-in for eagle from the bunker on the 11th. However, Im still very eager to make it count this week and am confident of being back at the top of my game in the final round.”

Amardip Sinh Malik (70, 67, 71) is placed third at eight under 208 while Anirban Lahiri and Ranjit Singh Rathore share fourth place at seven under 209.