Shamim Khan takes lead in PGTI Tour Championship
By IANSFriday, December 18, 2009
MEWAT - Shamim Khan of the Delhi Golf Club shot a blistering six under 66 at the Classic Golf Resort here Friday to take a three stroke lead in round three of the PGTI Tour Championship 2009.
Shamim has now taken his total to 15 under 201, ahead of Ashok Kumar who was placed second at 12 under 204 as he shot a 70 Friday.
Shamim (67, 68, 66), who was overnight second, climbed to the top of the leaderboard as a result of his excellent chipping and putting on day three. He began poorly as he three-putted on the second and made bogey.
He then had a flurry of birdies on the third, fourth and fifth to snatch the lead from Ashok Kumar.
Shamim made the turn at three under for the day having made bogey-birdie-birdie on the seventh, eighth and ninth. The Delhi golfer then built on his lead with birdies on the 11th, 14th and 16th. He chipped-in from the bunker for birdie on the 16th.
Shamim said: “Even though I made a bogey on the second, I quickly got into my rhythm with back to back birdies on the third, fourth and fifth. I did not have any target in mind today and just focused on hitting maximum fairways and regulations. This is what I’ll try to do in the final round as well.”
Ashok (65, 69, 70) conceded his overnight lead Friday, having fired a two under 70. Ashok’s round included four birdies and two bogeys.
S.S.P. Chowrasia and Raju Ali Mollah were tied third at eight under 208 while Vijay Kumar and Chiragh Kumar were a further stroke behind in tied fifth.
Gaganjeet Bhullar was tied eighth at five under 211 and Anirban Lahiri, the current Aircel-PGTI Order of Merit leader, was tied 11th at three under 213.
Mukesh Kumar’s one under 215 total placed him in tied 18th position.
