Local boy Patel back in joint Gujarat Open lead with Aman Raj

By Rahul Banerji

Kalhaar golfer Anshul Patel struck a five-under 67 to share the lead with Patna’s Aman Raj (70) in round three of the Rs. 1 crore Gujarat Open at his home course in Ahmedabad on Friday.

Patel (66-71-67) and Raj (66-68-70) were sitting on totals of 12-under 204 going into the final day, the PGTI said.

Two 27-year-olds were five shots up on the rest of the field as Bangalore-based rookie Aryan Roopa Anand (71-69-69) had the next best card of seven-under 209 for third place.

Patel, the joint first-round leader along with Aman Raj before slipping to second in round two, had a quiet front nine on Friday with two birdies and a bogey where he hit his wedges close to the pin to pick up a couple of shots.

Anshul’s surge began with a crucial six-foot par-save on 10. Thereafter, there was no looking back as he collected five birdies, leaving himself three tap-ins, at the cost of a lone bogey.

The left-handed Patel, searching for his maiden title, said, “I hit it close and gave myself a lot of birdie chances but didn’t convert those.

“But on 10, I was in the rough and chipped out well and followed that up with a good up and down from 87 yards for par. That was the turning point for me today as it calmed my nerves.

Keeping it simple

“I then told myself that I’m in such a good position because I have played well enough to deserve it. I then just took one shot at a time and didn’t think too far ahead.”

Aman Raj, overnight sole leader by three shots, missed putts on a day he could manage just three birdies in exchange for one dropped shot.

Aman, a winner on the PGTI in 2018, said, “As compared to my first two rounds, the putts didn’t roll in today.

“I didn’t have any momentum going. It was a test of patience but I’m glad to have hung in there and ended the day with a birdie.”

Khalin Joshi was tied 20^th on one-over 217 while Udayan Mane was a further shot back in tied 24^th place.

Ahmedabad’s Varun Parikh was 31^st on four-over 220.

Noida-based 15-year-old Aarav D. Shah, the lone amateur in the field was tied 42^nd on seven-over 223.

Also read: Raj opens up three-shot at Gujarat Open with Patel in second