Shaurya Binu extends lead to three shots at Vooty Masters

By Rahul Banerji

Leading from the start, Shaurya Binu opened the gap to three shots after day three of the Rs 1 crore Dream Valley Group presents Vooty Masters at the Vooty Golf County in Vikarabad on Friday.

The 19-year-old Binu (66-66-70), in his second season as a professional and searching for his maiden title, totals 14-under 202 with a 2 under par 70 on Friday, the PGTI said.

Qualifying School winner Matias Dominguez (67-69-69) of Chile fired a 69 to move up two places to tied second at 11-under 205.

Three-time international winner Rahil Gangjee (68-67-70) signed for a 70 to gain one spot and sit alongside Dominguez.

Bangalore’s Binu, leading by two strokes overnight opened with a birdie but then had a topsy-turvy round.

Struggling to read the greens on Friday, he dropped four shots which included one where he found the water and one to close out his round with.

However, Binu, a good football player too, did manage five more birdies thanks to exceptional tee and approach shots that kept him ahead of the rest on a high-scoring day.

One of the highlights of Shaurya’s round was driving the green on the par-4 seventh that set up a two-putt birdie for him.

Rollercoaster run

Shaurya, the son of an Army officer, said, “It was a rollercoaster round as I didn’t read the greens well today

“I kept picking up birdies but I also dropped more bogeys today which cost me. I hope to avoid the bogeys in the final round because I know I can make enough birdies. My tee shots were excellent today as I took advantage of my length off the tee.

“The key in the last round will be staying within myself rather than getting affected by the situation or the leaderboard. If I can do that, I would have a good chance of winning,” added Binu, the leader since round one.

Aman Raj (69) was fourth on 10-under 206 while Karan Pratap Singh (68) and defending champion Manu Gandas (69) were tied for fifth on 9-under 207.

Vikarabad-based Mohd Azhar (73) was tied 21^st on 3-under 213.

Round 3 leaders

202: Shaurya Binu (66-66-70)

205: Matias Dominguez (67-69-69); Rahil Gangjee (68-67-70)

206: Aman Raj(67-70-69)

Also read: Binu maintains Vooty Masters lead with a second straight 66