Jyoti Randhawa T14 at Diamond Cup

Report by Anand Datla

September 27, 2014: Jyoti Randhawa kept pegging away at the Asia Pacific Diamond Cup Golf event. The Indian scored 70 in the third round of the Japan Golf Tour event to get within four shots off the leader, Wen-Chong Liang who is five-under 208 after three rounds. Arjun Atwal made 1-over 72 to drop back to even par and into a tie for 22nd, with the final round left to be played on Sunday.

Randhawa produced an undulating round of golf that saw his fortunes sway with the wind before making a birdie on the 18th finish with a flourish. He made 35 on either side of his round as he improved to 1-under on Saturday. His round was punctuated by two birdies and a double bogey on the front nine.

On his way in, Randhawa produced an eagle at the par-5 14th to surge ahead, but consecutive bogeys at the 16th and 17th pulled him back to even par. Randhawa gained a shot at the final hole to join nine other golfers in a tie for 14th place.

Atwal was T18 at the end of the second round, riding on the strength of a 69 in the first round. However, a second straight 72 meant that Atwal had the paid the course back in full to slip back to even par at the end of three rounds. Atwal was even par midway through the round, but bogeys at the 12th and 18th buttressed by a birdie at the par-3 13th dropped him down to even par along side six other golfers.

The best round of the day was by Yusaku Miyazato, who shot 66 to jump seven spots and tie for third at 3-under 210. The Japanese star made seven birdies and two bogeys in his third round to bring himself into contention for Sunday.Liang made three birdies on his way to the clubhouse to retain a single shot edge over Kazuhiro Yamashita.