Bilt Open: Rashid bang on target

October 25, 2013: Delhi’s Rashid Khan has kept his focus right with a one-stroke advantage going into the final round of the BILT Open 2013 at the Jaypee Greens Golf Resort in Greater Noida. Rashid carded a three-under-69 in round three to take his total score to 15-under-201. Kolkata’s SSP Chowrasia shot the joint best score of the day to be on the leader’s tail at 14-under-202.

Rashid Khan (64-68-69), the overnight leader by three strokes, had a poor start to the day as he bogeyed the first and third holes. He found the trees on the first and missed a two-footer on the third. However, Rashid got back his rhythm with birdies on the fourth and sixth thanks to a couple of excellent approach shots. The 22-year-old then sank three birdie putts from a range of 10 to 15 feet on the 10th, 16th and 17th. Khan missed a four-foot birdie putt on the 18th but still kept his title hopes alive with a 69 that placed him one shot ahead.

“ My target on the final day will be a total score of 20-under or more. I’ll have to play to my potential as SSP is very experienced and will be a tough competitor on the final day,” said Rashid.

SSP Chowrasia’s (70-65-67) 67 was the joint best score of the day. Chowrasia went bogey-free for the second straight day and continued to be placed second. He picked up a birdie on the first and added another on the fifth where his second shot from 130 yards landed within three feet of the pin. SSP went on to convert two 10-footers for birdies on the sixth and 12th. The 34-year-old grabbed another birdie opportunity on the 10th where his approach shot had stopped five feet from the hole.

Panchkula’s Angad Cheema is placed third at 10-under-206. Cheema’s third round of 68 included an eagle, three birdies and a bogey.

Chandigarh’s Abhijit Singh Chadha and Rahil Gangjee of Kolkata are a further two shots back in joint fourth.

Himmat Singh Rai of the DLF Golf & Country Club also fired a 67 to record the day’s joint best score along with Chowrasia. Himmat is currently in tied sixth at seven-under-209 along with Delhi’s Chiragh Kumar, Harendra Gupta of Chandigarh and Sri Lankan Mithun Perera.

Rolex Rankings leader Mukesh Kumar lies tied 13th at four-under-212.

Jyoti Randhawa and defending champion Shamim Khan are both in tied 18th place at two-under-214.