Bedi, Mane set up final day duel in Bengal Open as Mukesh lurks

By Rahul Banerji

Udayan Mane stayed on course for a record fourth straight title as he shared the lead with teenager Aadil Bedi of Chandigarh after round three of the Bengal Open at the Tollygunge Club in Kolkata.

Pune-based Order of Merit leader Mane (67-63-67) and Bedi (65-65-67) were on totals of 13-under-197. Both went 3-under-67 at the Tata Steel PGTI Rs. 30 lakh event on Saturday.

All-time domestic tour winner Mukesh Kumar of Mhow, who also had a 67 on the day, lurks in third place at 12-under-198.

Delhi’s Kapil Kumar handed in the day’s best of 65 to sit tied 19^th on 5-under-205.

Nineteen-year-old Bedi, part of the overnight lead group with Mane, Khalin Joshi and Om Prakash Chouhan, had a quiet opening stretch before he found his rhythm with his first birdie of the day on the seventh hole.

Steady going

Bedi, an Asian Tour regular last year who lost out on his card at the Q School this season, made steady progress on the back nine with as many as three chip-putt birdies.

Bedi also saved par from a tough spot on the 16^th courtesy an excellent up and down. The only blemish on his card was the bogey on the 17^th where he found the rough and then hit it over the green.

Bedi, who is in search of his maiden title, said, “It was a windy day and the conditions were tougher than the previous two days.

“But I played solid, struck it well and capitalized with birdies on all the three par-5s. I almost drove the 15^th green today, a hole where I have made birdies on all three days this week.

“I have gained distance recently and that helped me set up so many chip-putt birdies today as I kept landing it close to the green.

“The hard work I’ve done on my driving and change of equipment has contributed in adding distance to my driver and 3-wood.

‘Good record’

“I’ve enjoyed a good record at the Tollygunge Club as I won here twice as a junior. I’ve also shot a lot of low scores here in the past. So the good memories from the past should help me in the final round.”  

Mane struck a 15^th consecutive sub-70 round on the PGTI to raise hopes of a record fourth successive title on the tour, his four birdies including two 15-foot conversions.

The big-built golfer also landed his tee shot within three feet of the pin to pick up a birdie on the eighth.

Mane dropped his only shot of the day on the seventh where he was in trouble from the outset having found the trees with his tee shot. He was also unable to push ahead towards the end with pars on the last five holes.

Udayan said, “My iron-play was not up to the mark today. But I felt that I managed my round well despite the windy conditions. In these conditions, I’d take a three-under any time.

“I’ve been in contention quite often now so the confidence is high going into the last round.”

In the mix

Mukesh, a winner of over 100 titles in India and an Asian Tour winner, made his presence felt in with a 67 which featured five birdies and two bogeys.

Mukesh, who last won at the Tollygunge Club at a PGTI event in 2010, is likely to a strong contender in the final round.

Bangalore’s Joshi, another former Asian Tour winner, dropped off the overnight joint lead to fourth place on 11-under-199 with a 69.

Mhow’s Chouhan also slipped off the joint lead as his score of 70 placed him tied fifth at 10-under-200 along with Gurgaon’s Digvijay Singh (69).

Rahil Gangjee of Bangalore was tied eighth on 8-under-202 along with Gurgaon’s Veer Ahlawat, currently second in the PGTI Order of Merit.

Viraj Madappa was the highest-placed among the Kolkata players in tied 11^th at 7-under-203.

Also read: Mane stays in the 60s; in four-way Bengal Open lead