Event leader Jamal Hossain of Bangladesh plays out an awkward lie on day three of the IndianOil Servo Masters in Digboi, Assam, on Friday. Image courtesy PGTI.
By Rahul Banerji
Jamal Hossain of Bangladesh carded a hard-fought level par 72 to maintain his overnight two-shot lead on 11 under par 205 after round three of the IndianOil Servo Masters at the Digboi Golf Links in Assam on Friday.
Pune’s Divyansh Dubey struck a 69 to jump three places to second on 9 under 207, the PGTI said.
Samarth Dwivedi shot the day’s best score of 66 to occupy tied third place along with Udayan Mane (70) and Mani Ram (72) on 8 under 208.
Deven Bhumij (73), the only Digboi-based professional to make the cut, ended the day in tied 33rd place on level par 216.
Hossain (68-65-72), a four-time winner on the PGTI, had a poor start for the second straight day as he bogeyed the second hole.
The 39-year-old then came up with some excellent chipping to set up two tap-ins enroute his three birdies on the front nine.
Hossain, who regularly missed short range putts on Friday, dropped a double-bogey and bogey on the back nine where he had one birdie.
“I continued to strike the ball well and also did well with my chipping today. However, I missed a lot of putts,” Hossain said.
Mental strength
“I’m happy that I came back strong after an early bogey for the second day running. Some of my approach shots were also not up to the mark.
“I managed to hang in there today despite an ordinary round thanks to all my experience. Many years of playing have taught me how to handle myself even when my game is not at its best.
“I’ll approach the final round like any other round and not put too much pressure on myself.”
Twenty-year-old Dubey (68-70-69), playing only his third season on the PGTI and searching for his maiden win, produced five birdies and two bogeys on Friday.
Divyansh has been making news since the Pune event two weeks back where he was in contention.
“From the Pune event onwards, I’ve been in a good space mentally and as far as my game is concerned,” Dubey noted.
“My ball-striking has been great over the last three weeks. I’ve been hitting fairways and greens in Digboi and it’s just been a matter of converting putts. Capitalising on putting opportunities will be the key in the final round.”
Also read: Hossain shoots tournament low 65 to rise on day 2 at Digboi
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