Thangaraja and Khalin Joshi take the lead in Kolkata Classic

Anand Datla
March 24, 2016: Sri Lankan N Thangaraja was rewarded for producing the day’s best effort of five-under-67 as he grabbed a share of the third round lead at the Kolkata Classic on Thursday. Thangaraja was joined by Bengaluru golfer Khalin Joshi, who struck a three-under-69 in round three, in tied first place at seven-under-209 at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club (RCGC).

Ajeetesh Sandhu of Chandigarh matched Thangaraja’s day’s best of 67 to jump into contention in third place just one shot behind the joint leaders at the Rs. 30 lakh event.

Eighteen-year-old Feroz Singh Garewal, another Chandigarh-based professional, achieved the rare distinction of making consecutive eagles during round three.

The young golfer had a weird round of 73 that was blemished by two bogeys and a triple bogey seven at the sixth hole. But he followed that with eagles at 8 & 9 to create history on the PGTI Tour.

Thangaraja made birdies at the first two holes and added another at the turn. Keeping his sheet clean, the Lankan added two more birdies at the 15th and 16th to set up a flawless effort.

Khalin repeated 69 for the second straight day as he joined Thangaraja in the lead ahead of the final round on Friday. The Bengaluru golfer suffered a bogey at the 7th hole and made four birdies in his three under effort on Thursday.

Sandhu was working up a profuse round – scoring eight birdies and three bogeys in his 67. Muniyappa scored 68 as he joined a three way tie for fourth with Shubhankar Sharma and Feroz Ali.

Overnight leader Ali had a miserable outing, peppered with bogeys. He made a double bogey at the ninth besides five other bogeys. Ali’s 75 followed 68 and 68 in the first two rounds and contained four birdies as well, but he dropped to T4, two off the pace.

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