Superb Bhullar maintains stay at the top

Indian cards two-under-par 69 in third round to take two shots lead; Gangjee misses cut

Gaganjeet Bhullar continued to be in the driver’s seat as he retained his overnight lead at the Venetian Macau Open after working his way to a two-under-par 69 in the third round here on Saturday.

In fact that lead could well have been doubled but for two missed putts from close range over the last two holes.

The 24-year-old Bhullar, who has led the USD 750,000 Asian Tour event from the opening day, is now 13-under 200. He missed par from three feet on 17 and then failed to convert a birdie chance from a similar range at the last hole. He had five birdies against three bogeys as he stayed on course for his fourth career victory on the Asian Tour.

Among India’s other stars, Shiv Kapur had a double bogey on the fourth but still carded a one-under 70 to move to 12th place, up from 15th. Ajeetesh Sandhu (71) moved to tied 34th up by six places, while Himmat Rai had an unusual round with two eagles, a triple bogey and a double bogey, three bogeys and just one birdie in his 74. He dropped to tied 47th, down from 24th. Bhullar is two shots clear of the Thai youngster Thitiphun Chuayprakong (69). Filipino Angelo Que (70), Scott Hend of Australia (69) and American Berry Henson (68) are at 204, four shots behind Bhullar.

Disappointment for Atwal Arjun Atwal missed the cut by one shot despite two birdies on his second nine in the second round of the Frys.com Open in San Martin (US) on the PGA Tour.

Atwal, who was lying way down after a two-over 73 in the first round, ended at even par 142 while the cut came at one-under 141.

The Indian started at the 10th and bogeyed the 13th, but then birdied the 15th, first and sixth.

John Mallinger opened a four-stroke lead following an eagle and two birdies on the final four holes for a course record-tying 9-under 62.

He eagled the par-5 15th and closed with consecutive birdies to reach 14 under.

Billy Horschel (65) and Jhonattan Vegas (67) were second at 10-under 132. Nicolas Colsaerts (68), Nick O’Hern (71) and Scott Dunlap (63) were tied 4th at nine-under 133.

Costly miss

A bogey on the very last hole in the second round cost Rahil Gangjee dearly as he missed the cut by one at the midway stage of the Miccosukee Championships on the Web.com Tour in Miami on Saturday.

While Gangjee totalled two-over 144, the cut went at one-over 143. Gangjee bogeyed the first but made up with birdies on the seventh and ninth and then added a third on 13th. He was on the line, but a bogey on the 18th ended his chances.

Steve LeBrun and Christopher DeForest shared the 36-hole lead at 7-under 135.

Cameron Percy is alone in third place, two strokes behind them at the Miccosukee Golf and Country Club.