Oct 27, 2018: Indian talent Khalin Joshi fired a superb eight-under-par 64 to turn a six-shot deficit into a one-shot lead alongside Bangladeshi hero Siddikur Rahman following the penultimate round of the US$400,000 Panasonic Open India on Saturday.
The 26-year-old Joshi, who is bidding for a maiden Asian Tour title, produced a near-perfect card which included nine birdies and a lone bogey. His three-day total of a 13-under-par 203 would match the efforts of Siddikur, who signed for a battling 70, at the Delhi Golf Club.
Ajeetesh Sandhu of India remained in third place after carding a 70 while overnight joint-leader Suradit Yongcharoenchai of Thailand slipped two shots off the pace to fourth following a 72 in the event, which is celebrating its eighth successive editions on the Asian Tour this week.
Siddikur, a two-time Asian Tour winner, got off to a fast start with three straight birdies before dropping two bogeys on the fourth and ninth hole to turn in 35. He would regain a shot on the 11th hole to remain one shot ahead of the chasing pack.
Joshi has enjoyed a superb season thus far, capping two top-10 finishes to sit in 23rd place on the Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings. Having virtually secured his playing rights for the 2019 season, Joshi will take aim at securing a breakthrough victory on Sunday.
Sandhu, who traded three birdies against a bogey, remained hopeful of a successful redemption at the Panasonic Open India, where he came in joint-second last year. He is chasing for a second victory and first on home soil on the region’s premier Tour.
The Panasonic Open India is sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) and is the second leg of the 2018/19 Panasonic Swing, which is an aggregate points race that spans five events – in Thailand, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Japan.
Asian Tour Release
