Khalin Joshi shines in Jakarta 68 R3

Khalin Joshi made 68 in the third round of the Indonesian Masters to lie T6 after 54 holes

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Khalin Joshi was the best placed Indian, finishing T15 at the Indonesian Masters

 

Report by Anand Datla

 

April 25, 2015: After surviving impossibly difficult conditions on Friday, it was time for the golfers to reassert their mastery of the game and the course. Khalin Joshi and Rashid Khan were among the few men that posted remarkably good scores to fight for their dignity and honour against a remorseless Royale Jakarta Golf Club course. Joshi made 68 to consolidate his position in the top 10 while Khan shot 69 to join three others in T21. Lee Westwood took centrestage with a 65 on Saturday to earn a massive five shot lead over YE Yang, Thomas Bjorn and Namchok Tantipokhakul.

 

Joshi had a blemishless outing, firing two birdies on either side of his run to regain control ahead of the final round on Sunday. After a painful 76 in the second round, Joshi did remarkably well to recover and establish himself inside the top ten.

 

Joshi made consecutive birdies just before making the turn. He added another at the 14th to get even with the course. Khalin went under par with a birdie at the final hole to sign off in style.

 

On Thursday, Rashid made five birdies and two bogeys to turn in a 69. But as the winds picked up in the second round, he had to content himself with a 79. But under calmer conditions on Saturday, Khan was back to his best.

 

He made a birdie at the third hole, but gave it back when he suffered a five at the par-4 8th hole. Khan made birdies at 9, 10 and 15 to improve to one-over. He eventually finished with a bogey – birdie at the 17th and 18th to set himself up for a promising finish on Sunday.

 

Westwood seems set to make it three in three at the Indonesian Masters after a classy 65 on Saturday. “Nobody was really doing anything around the front-nine. I was sort of plodding along and even-par till 11 and only two behind then. But I managed to have a good run after that and stamp a bit of authority when nobody was doing it,” said Westwood. “I’ve been here twice and I won both times so I like to keep that going. I’ve never been beaten before so I’m going in with a big chance tomorrow.”

 

Abhijit Chadha and Angad Cheema made 73 and 71 respectively to sneak inside the top 50. Both men are at 6-over through 54 holes. Chiragh Kumar repeated 77 for the second day running to lie T63 near the bottom of the sheet.

 

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