Jyoti Randhawa T6 at Hong Kong

Report by Anand Datla

October 18, 2014: After keeping Indian fans delighted with their presence in the top 5 of the leaderboard at the Hong Kong Open, both SSP Chowrasia and Jyoti Randhawa dropped down a shade after an intense third round at the Hong Kong Open. Randhawa lead the field at the end of the first round, while Chowrasia took over yesterday to jump inside the T5. On Saturday, Chowrasia could only muster a 70 as he remained at 6-under, lying T13. Randhawa though had a marginally better day, scoring 68 to remain inside the top ten. The lead changed hands for a third day running as Marcus Fraser took over from Ernie Els after scoring a superb 65.

Chowrasia was nowhere near finding the form that earned him a 65 in the second round. He started with a bogey at the second hole and finished an uneventful day with another bogey at the 17th, before wrapping up with a par at the final hole.

Randhawa too had a miserable start – a double bogey at the first hole and a bogey at the fifth setting him back even before he could get his juices flowing. But he recovered with a telling run of five birdies in eight holes to turn the tide in his favour. He ensured a smooth landing too, coasting home with four straight pars to close his round at 8-under, just three from the leader.

Shiv Kapur had a disastrous start to his day when he suffered two bogeys and a double bogey within the space of the first five holes to sink to four over for the round. But he recovered magnificently from there to finish with a nice flourish to help himself to an even par 70. Kapur made three birdies in the final four holes to leave the course with a sweet taste in his mouth, despite a rather bitter start.

The low round of the day belonged to Javier Colomo who struck an eagle at the third hole and five other birdies to sign on a 64 and join Randhawa in T6 at -8.