Day three DP World Players Championship leader Honey Baisoya in action at the Qutab Golf Course on Thursday. Image courtesy DP World PGTI.
By Rahul Banerji
Honey Baisoya stormed to a five-shot lead on Moving Day of the Rs 1.5 crore DP World Players Championship at the Qutab Golf Course in New Delhi on Thursday.
Baisoya returned the day’s best score of 6 under par 64 to build an imposing advantage over the field with a day to go, the DP World PGTI said.
Second overnight a shot behind day two leader Jhared Hack of the US, Baisoya (63-65-64) put together seven birdies and a bogey on Thursday to take his 54-hole total to 18 under 192.
The 29-year-old, from the DLF Golf & Country Club in Gurgaon, is a seven-time winner on the DP World PGTI and is out to end a five-year-long title wait since his last victory in 2021.
Jamal Hossain (65-54-68) gained one place with a 68 on day three, moving into second position on 13 under 197.
Day one leader Kshitij Naveed Kaul (65), Hack (71), Tapendra Ghai (66) and Veer Ahlawat (66) were tied for third on 12-under 198.
Dialled in
Baisoya’s putter helped him make early gains on Thursday as he rolled in three birdies from between 10 and 15 feet on the first six holes.
He also recovered well after finding the hazard on the fifth where a bogey limited the damage.
Baisoya, who finished runner-up at the DP World PGTI event staged at Qutab last year, then added four more birdies on the back nine.
Three of those came in the last four holes where he played some outstanding chip shots to leave himself a couple of tap-ins.
“My putting has stood out this week and today I had 12 single putts which set up the day, Baisoya said.
“Also regularly hit the centre of the fairway off the tee and played some quality chip shots as well. I did well to put behind the disappointment of the bogey and come back with a birdie on the very next hole.
Setting a target
“On the 10th tee, I told my caddie that my target is to chase 20 under today and if I focus on that, it will give me a good shot at the title.
“I managed to get close to 20-under and set myself up well for the final day.”
Second-placed Hossain mixed four birdies with two bogeys in his third round.
Kaul holed his second shot from the fairway to pick up an eagle-two on the Par-4 18th that helped him close the day with a 65.
Also read: Hack storms into halfway lead at DP World Players Championship
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