Anirban Lahiri T6 at Indonesia Open

Anirban Lahiri is in T6 at the Indonesia Open. The Indian shot a second straight 66 to go 7-under through three rounds.

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Anirban Lahiri is in T6 at the Indonesia Open

 

Edited by Anand Datla

 

Jakarta, December 6: Padraig Harrington of Ireland held a commanding five-shot lead at the weather interrupted BANK BRI Indonesia Open before the third round was abandoned on Saturday. Anirban Lahiri is in a race with David Lipsky as the top two men on the Asian Tour Order of Merit were locked in at T6 after three rounds at the PIK Course. Lahiri made two bogeys and seven birdies in his third round score of 66.

 

It was a second straight 66 for the Indian, who made a 74 on the opening day. Lahiri has climbed to 7-under and though he is nine adrift of the leader, only four shots separate the golfer from second placed Nathan Holman who is 11-under through 13 holes. (Latest Golf News)

 

SSP Chowrasia is the only other Indian inside the top 20. He is lying in T11, just one shot behind Lahiri. Chowrasia shot 68 on Saturday including a hole in one on  the seventh hole. Chiragh Kumar and Jyoti Randhawa are tied 28th at two under, though the later is yet to play the 18th hole in his third round. Arjun Atwal is lying in T35 after closing the third round with a 73 for an overall score of 1-under 212.

 

Harrington, a three-time Major winner, was 16-under through 13 holes before play was called off at the Damai Indah Golf, PIK course. He will return on Sunday at 6.40am alongside 44 other players to complete the round.

 

Playing in the same group as Harrington, Australia’s Nathan Holman was a distant five shots back while co-overnight leader Thanyakon Khrongpha of Thailand struggled with his driver and was 10-under through 13 holes.

 

Local hope George Gandranata continued his fine run at the US$750,000 Asian Tour event where he sits on eight-under after playing 16 holes.

 

Harrington, who is aiming to win his first title since 2012, hopes to stay positive as he prepares for a 23-hole marathon finale on Sunday.

 

“I was doing nicely. I got a good start and holed a couple of putts at the right time. I didn’t do too many mistakes but it is always difficult when you have the lead. You are a little bit cautious and it is something which I have to deal with.

 

“The last thing I want to do is go out there and be negative because that gives the rest of the field a chance. It is an awkward position to be in. It is never easy to lead. It is always easy to chase,” said Harrington, who marked his card with four birdies.

 

Holman struggled to repeat his second round heroics where he posted a brilliant 63. The Australian needs a huge result this week to have a chance of retaining his Asian Tour card for the 2015 season.

 

“I didn’t have real momentum going. The suspension didn’t really affect anything. Obviously you can learn quite a bit from Padraig Harrington and it has been really nice playing with him. Hope to get a good night’s sleep and see what happens tomorrow,” said Holman, ranked 95th on the Merit list.

 

Thanyakon, who is chasing for a first Asian Tour win, rued poor tee shots as he stumbled to four bogeys against two birdies. He gave himself a lifeline when he birdied the 13th hole before play was called off for the day.

 

“I was hitting my driver to the left today. It was very disappointing and I couldn’t recover from that. It really hurt my score. I was also struggling to judge the speed of the greens. Hopefully I can bounce back,” said the 24-year-old Thai.

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