Jeev moves up to tied second, two shots behind leader

TOKYO - Defending champion Jeev Milkha Singh putted like a dream with a five-under 65 that brought him back into contention at the season-ending Nippon Series JT Cup golf here Saturday.

Jeev, who won the title in 2006 and 2008 and finished third in between in 2007, was at five-under 205 at tied second, two shots behind South Korea’s Kim Kyung Tae, who shot a sizzling six-under 64.

Jeev shares the second place with Toshinori Muto (66) and the duo are two shots clear of overnight leader and now fourth placed Shigeki Maruyama (70), a past champion here.

Jeev, who has won four times in Japan, including twice at this very event and course, has steadily moved from 10th to seventh to tied second. Jeev opened the third round with a double bogey, but over the next two holes, he made up with birdies, one of them a chip-in on the third. Birdies on sixth and ninth saw him turn in two-under.

He again birdied the 10th and 12th before dropping a shot on par-4 13th hole. Once again he quickly recovered with birdies on 15th and 17th to finish at 65 and in tied second.

“Through the year I have hit the ball, but the difference this week so far has been that I have putted well,” said Jeev, who needed just 23 putts for the third round. During three rounds, he has had just one three-putt on the 13th on second day.

“I have always loved playing in Japan and especially this tournament, because the organisers have been so good to me,” said Jeev.

Kim is seeking his first win in Japan. He had seven birdies against one bogey for a seven-under 203 total on the par-70 layout at Tokyo Yomiuri Country Club. The 23-year-old Korean had four birdies in a six-hole stretch beginning at the 12th hole.

Kim has finished second or tied for second four times in two full seasons on the Japanese tour.

Ryo Ishikawa had a 67 but is now almost certain to become the youngest winner of the Money List honours on the JGTO tour as second-ranked Yuta Ikeda, who has to win this event to overtake the 18-year-old, fell 12 shots off the lead. Ikeda (68) moved up to 20th at 5 over, while Ishikawa (67) shared 22nd in the 27-man field at 7 over.