Ghai builds four-shot cushion in round three of Calance Open

Calance Open day three leader Tapendra Ghai of Gurgaon in action at the Qutab course on Thursday. Image courtesy PGTI.

By Rahul Banerji 

Tapendra Ghai built a four-shot lead in round three of the Rs 1 crore Calance Open at the Qutab Golf Course in New Delhi with an 8 under par 62 on Thursday.

The 29-year-old Ghai (64-67-62), who won his only tour title in 2018, took his total to 17-under 193 to climb three places from overnight tied fourth, the PGTI said.

Delhi’s Honey Baisoya (67), Ludhiana’s Pukhraj Singh Gill (68) and Chandigarh’s Yuvraj Sandhu (69), were in a share of second place on 13 under 197.

Ghai, a joint first round leader before he slipped in round two, was in terrific form with the putter on a day when everyone else struggled with short putts.

The Gurgaon golfer made single putts on his first eight holes where he sank three birdies and came up with a few outstanding par saves.

Ghai then picked up a further three shots between holes 10 and 13, draining his longest putt of the week, a 30-footer, on 13.

A bogey on 14 came against the run of play but he more than made up for it with birdies on his last three holes where again he displayed some quality putting and good bunker shots.

Brisk start

“I started off really well with single putts on the first eight holes. I also managed to close it out well with birdies on the last three holes,” Ghai said.

“That always gives momentum going into the next round. The big difference compared to round one was that I made a lot more putts today.

“Importantly, this week I’ve been able to execute what I’ve been practicing. In the final round, it will be all about staying in the present and executing well.

“I have some familiarity with Qutab Golf Course because I played here for three years as a junior. However, I must add that the course has changed a lot since then.”

Honey Baisoya made six birdies and a bogey during his 65 to move up four places to tied second place while Gill’s 66 helped him jump two places to tied second and Sandhu’s 67 saw him rise one place on the leaderboard.

Mumbai’s Aryaman Aditya Mohan and Manu Gandas of Gurgaon were the others to make big moves on Thursday as they both shot scores of 63.

Mohan ended the day in tied sixth on 11 under 199 while Gandas was ninth on 10 under 200.

Also read: Kshitij Naveed Kaul blazes to Calance Open lead with record round