Asian Games golf: Rashid and Indian team slip to fourth place

GUANGZHOU - It was a disappointing day for the Indian golfers, even as South Korea again seemed on course to making a clean sweep of all four Asian Games gold medals at the Dragon Lake Golf Club here.

On Friday, the third day of golf competitions, none of the four Indians, including medal prospect Rashid Khan could break par. Rashid dropped to fourth, and so did the Indian team.

Rashid had a 74 and he struggled through the day. He was two-over for the front nine and seemed to have covered a little ground on the back nine before a closing bogey spoilt the day.

“It was a bad day. My driving was awful and I was always struggling, but thats what golf is about, said Rashid.

The day, however, belonged to a Thai teenager, 18-year-old Attachai Jaichalad, who despite a bogey-bogey finish smashed the course record with a seven-under 65. That brought him into medal contention in third place with one more round to go.

South Korean youngster, Kim Meen Whee, one behind the leader overnight added a fine five-under 67 including an eagle on 11th to open up a wide gap of six shots over overnight leader Miguel Luis Tabuena of the Philippines, who slipped with a 74.

Kim was 12-under 204 for 54 holes, while Tabuena was six-under 210 and Jaichalad was a further shot behind at five-under 211. Rashid was three-under 213 and tied with another Korean Lee Jae Hyeok (74)

Jaichalad, who putted like a dream was five-under for the front nine was nine-under through 16 holes. But with bogeys on last two holes, he lost a chance to close in on leader Kim.

In the team competition, South Korea was streets ahead as they zipped to 24-under 624 as three of their four golfers came under par and they had an under-par total for third day in a row. Philippines hung on to the second place, despite a two-over total, but at five-over 653 for three days, they were 29 behind South Korea.

Thailand rode on Jaichalads brilliant round to bring in four-under 212 in the third round and they moved into a tie for second place with the Philippines at five-over 653.

India were lying fourth after a disappointing total of six-over 222 and that put them at 10-over 658 and they were a mere one shot ahead of Japan, who have had their golfers struggling so far. Japan were 218 for the day and their total was 11-over 659.

In the womens section, South Koreans occupied all three top positions, with Kim Hyun Soo (65) at 11-under for three days. Kim was eight clear of her teammate Han Jung Eun (68) at 213. Kim Jihee (71) was third at 217.

Indian girls Shreya Ghei (239) was 21st while Vani Kapoor (242) and Gurbani Singh (242) were tied 22nd.

In the team event South Korea was leading at three-under 429 for three days and China in second place were five shots behind at 434. Japan was third at 441. India were ninth out of ten teams at 465.