By a Correspondent
Teenager Shubham Jaglan carded two birdies and a crucial par on his way to a third sub-par round under at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Dubai on Friday.
With scores of 70-68-69, Jaglan is 6-under par for the prestigious event and in a tie for 13th place.
Only two Indians have earlier finished in the top-10 of the continental event since it began in 2009. Khalin Joshi T9 in 2010 and Rayhan Thomas runner-up three years ago.
Milind Soni and Akshay Neranjan, who also made the cut from a group of seven Indians this year, shot level par 71s and were T-24 and T-37.
Level par with two birdies and two bogeys after his front nine, Jaglan handled the back nine well at the Dubai Creek Golf and Country Club.
He had birdies on 14 and 15 and saved par from 12 feet for his 69 and a 207 aggregate with a day to go.
The 17-year-old Jaglan, now with the University of South Florida, was five shots behind the leader, world no. 1 Keita Nakajima (67).
Slim advantage
Nakajima held a one-shot lead over the two-time champion, Lin Yuxin of China.
Overnight leader Jin Bo (69), who is trying to emulate his brother Jin Cheng (winner in 2015), slipped to T3 with Korea’s Sam Choi.
Jaglan said later, “It was pretty good. I was nervous going into the round knowing I was going to play with Puwit (Anupansuebsai). He’s a really good college golfer.
“I got off to a solid start, hit the green on the first seven holes in a row, so that settled me into the round.
“I gave myself some good opportunities and the wind was up a little bit today. The tees, especially, on the par 3s were back and that’s where I really struggled.
“Found the water on 8 and hit it in the bunker on 14 and made bogey on both.”
He added, “I sort of hung in there and kept giving myself good opportunities and came back with birdies on 15 and 16, which was pretty good. I saved a good par on 18.”
About plans for the final round, he said, “I feel good about my game. I’ve been hitting the ball really well all three days.
Looking forward
“Usually when the wind picks up, I start losing my tempo but that’s something I’ve been working on for the past month or so and that’s really helping me, so looking forward to tomorrow.”
Milind Soni had three birdies and three bogeys in the first 11 holes but played par over the last seven.
Akshay Neranjan was at 2-under and bogey-free in his first 15 holes but dropped shots on 16 and 18 for a level par 71.
The day’s best card came from Kho Taichi (64), which equalled those by Jin Bo and Thailand’s Puwit in the second round.
Kho was fifth. Puwit is T6 along with three others, Yuki Moriyama of Japan, Australian Andre Lautee and Japan’s Leo Oyo.
Also read: Five surprising golf facts you (probably) haven’t heard
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