Delhi’s Harshjeet turns on the heat

Delhi teenager Harshjeet Sethi turned on the heat in sensational fashion to open up a commanding lead in the penultimate round of the IGU Nutrite-Rotary Karnataka Amateur Golf Championship here on Thursday.

Peppering the Eagleton Golf Resort with seven birdies, the 17-year-old was also flawless in his effort to card a superb seven-under 65 to total 202 and take a five-shot lead over Rohan Dhole Patil.

Maharashtra lad Rohan, who set the pace before going off the radar on Wednesday, rediscovered his range to card 68 while Daksh Shokeen scored 66 to lie third at 210.

In the ladies competition, the junior girls continued to call the shots with joint pace-setter Hitaashe Bakshi firing a 75 to total 145 and take a whopping seven-shot lead over the duo of Disha Kavery (74) and Shreya Pal (75).

Harshjeet, who dished a fine exhibition of attacking golf on Wednesday, was in his elements in the third round also. Unlike the second round where his daring approach cost him a few shots, he didn't blip once in the third.

The Delhi lad opened his birdie account for the day on the fourth, added another on the sixth before turning in with birdies on the eighth and ninth holes. On his inward journey, he birdied the 13th, 15th and 16th holes.

Leading scores: Men (after 54 holes): 202: Harshjeet Sethie (70, 67, 65); 207: Rohan Dhole Patil (67, 72, 68); 210: Daksh Shokeen (68, 76, 66).

Ladies (after 36 holes): 160: Geetika Ahuja (80, 80); 161: Shagun Narain (82, 79), Anisha Agarwalla (81, 80).

Girls: Cat A&B: 145: Hitaashee Bakshi (74, 71); 152: Disha Kavery (78, 74), Shreya Pal (77, 75).

Cat A: 145: Hitaashee Bakshi; 152: Disha Kavery, Shreya Pal.

Cat B: 152: Nayanika Sanga (77, 75); 155: Khushi Hooda (76, 79); 156: Vidhati Urs (79, 77); Sneha Singh (77, 79).

Cat C: 152: Avani Prashanth (78, 74); 154: Ananya Garg (76, 78); 159: Mannat Brar (80, 79).