Bhullar still in contention in fourth place at Handa Classic golf

SINGAPORE - Gaganjeet Bhullar stayed in the contention at the Handa Singapore Classic golf championship here Saturday as he added a third round two-under 70 to stay within six shots of the leader Peter Karmis of South Africa.

Bhullar, second overnight, is 14-under 202, while Karmis (70) was 20-under 196 at the Orchid Country Club.

Bhullar was unable to build on the fine three-under front nine and managed only a two-under 70, which saw him slip from second to fourth.

Bhullar, a two-time Asian Tour champion, rued poor iron play as he closed with three birdies against one bogey.

“To be honest I didn’t hit the ball that close. I didn’t hit many balls on the green in regulation and the balls which I hit close wasn’t birdie opportunities. I could have been much better but I guess Peter has played well again. He deserves to be there and hopefully tomorrow I can scramble up the leader board,” said Bhullar.

Shiv Shankar P Chowrasia (71) also dropped from sixth to 12th at 12-under 204 and Himmat Rai (69) was tied 36th at nine-under.

Anirban Lahiri (73) dropped dramatically from tied 14th to was 45th eight under in tied 45th. C. Muniyappa (74) was tied 56th at six-under.

South African Jbe Kruger and Chinese Taipei’s Chan Yih-shin shot 68 each and trailed Karmis closely behind after the third round. They were 16-under.

Karmis fired three birdies against one bogey, his first of the tournament, for a two-under-par 70 to remain in contention for a first Asian Tour victory with a three-day total of 20-under-par 196 at the Orchid Country Club.

Kruger, who finished second in Brunei last month, and Chan, winner of the King’s Cup in Thailand last year, battled to a 68 to tie for second on 200 at the US$400,000 full field Asian Tour event.

South African Keith Horne fired a sizzling 65 to share fourth place alongside Korea’s Choi Jin-ho (66), Lu Wei-chih of Chinese Taipei (67), Pariya Junhasavasdikul of Thailand (68) and Bhullar (70) on a 202 total at the inaugural tournament.

Singapore’s Mardan Mamat holed a huge 30 feet putt for birdie on the 12th hole but was disappointed not to have a better score on the front nine as he closed with a 69 for a 203 total.