Jaini, Mukesh in tied third; Baek leads

Randhawa, Atwal in twelfth

Jaini, overnight tied third, took his overall total to six-under 210, four shots behind leader Baek Seuk-hyun (68) of Korea.

The second spot was held by Swede Rikard Karlberg (68), who was nine-under overall at the Delhi Golf Course.

The 28-year-old Jaini had four birdies against three bogeys in an admittedly erratic performance and was candid enough to say that his nerves got the better of him as he was not used to being followed by large groups. “I was feeling the nerves in the first five-six holes because obviously there were so many people to cheer me today and being a DGC guy, there are expectations. I hit some good and bad shots but I am happy with the way I scrambled back into the game.

“I would say it’s a good one-under score for today. The best finish would be 10-under. I am six-under right now, so I still have hopes,” Jaini said.  Mukesh, on the other hand, seemed to be in fine touch in a bogey-free front-nine that was studded with birdies on the first, fifth and eighth holes but things went haywire for him in the back-nine that was blemished by a couple of bogeys against just a lone birdie.

The veteran PGTI golfer, who has nine domestic titles under his belt, is hoping to make the most of the position with a late charge for the title.

Among other Indians in fray, three-time champion Jyoti Randhawa rediscovered some form to card a flawless three-under 69 to rise to the tied 12th spot with a four-under total.

“I hit the putts harder, making sure I wasn’t leaving them short. But still I feel I left a few out there,” Randhawa said.

Sharing the spot with him was Arjun Atwal, who continued to struggle in a topsy-turvy two-under 70 that had five birdies and a eagle against a couple of double-bogeys and a bogey. Ashok Kumar (70) was also tied 12th.

Shiv Kapur was a stroke adrift of the trio at tied 20th after carding a 69. Shamim Khan occupied the tied 27th position with a 74 that left his overall total at one-under. After a couple of steady days, 19-year-old Rashid Khan, part of the silver-winning team from the Asian Games, returned a disappointing 76 that took his overall score to six-over. Rashid slipped to tied 61st after the third round.

Leading scores after 54 holes: 206: Baek Seuk-hyun (Kor, 68, 70, 68); 207: Rikard Karlberg (Swe, 70, 69, 68); 210: Manav Jaini (Ind, 70, 69, 71), Mukesh Kumar (Ind, 70, 70, 70), Unho Park (Aus, 72, 68, 70), Jbe Kruger (RSA, 68, 73, 69); 211: Ben Fox (USA, 70, 69, 72), Anthony Kang (USA, 72, 67, 72), Mark Foster (Eng, 72, 69, 70), Marcus Both (Aus, 68, 74, 69), Siddikur (Ban, 72, 72, 67); 212: Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Tha, 70, 70, 72), Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha, 71, 70, 71), Kim Hyung-sung (Kor, 67, 74, 71), Ashok Kumar (Ind,  69, 73, 70), Peter Karmis (RSA, 72, 70, 70), Arjun Atwal (Ind, 73, 69, 70), Jyoti Randhawa (Ind, 72, 71, 69), Kenichi Kuboya (Jpn,  72, 72, 68); 213: Namchoak Tantipokakul (Tha, 68, 72, 73), Shiv Kapur (Ind, 71, 73, 69).