Atwal shoots 67 to lead Singapore Masters
India's Arjun Atwal took the third round lead in the
Caltex Singapore Masters, being played at the Laguna National Golf and
Country Club, on Saturday.
The 30-year-old from Kolkata fired a five-under-par 67
to lead the US$900,000 event at 10-under-par 206.
Second-round leader Nick O'Hern of Australia looked set to finish the day in
front but bogeyed the final two holes to finish a stroke behind Atwal. The
lefthander returned a 72 and is a shot ahead of American Jim Johnson, who
won this year's Asian PGA Qualifying School.
Among the other Indians, Gaurav Ghei is tied for the 17th place at
three-under 213 after a round of 74, while Jyoti Randhawa shot a similar
round to be in tied 44th place at level-par 216.
Hero Honda Masters champion Harmeet Kahlon had a miserable round of 77 and fell to tied 56th place at
one-over 217.
Atwal is playing his first full season on the European Tour but is no
stranger to the circuit. He's led on the European Tour before, after the
first round of the Johnnie Walker Classic in 1997 and after the second round
of the 2000 Malaysian Open. He's now added the third round lead to his
record and will be hoping to complete the set tomorrow.
The three-time winner on the Davidoff Tour was in trouble after finding
water on the par-three 17th. However, he managed to hole a 25-footer for a
bogey and then birdied the last from 15 feet.
"I have been playing well this year. I was in contention in South Africa in the Dunhill Championship after
three rounds. In the South African Open I was up there after two rounds. I
led with nine to play in Myanmar two weeks ago and I led with three to play
in India last week. It's alright, I am hitting it good so I feel good," said
Atwal, who finished equal fifth in last week's Hero Honda Masters.
Atwal fired seven birdies and two bogies. "I just need to hang in there. If
it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen, I am not going to expect anything from
tomorrow's round. I am playing well. I just want to stick to my game plan
and keep hitting solid shots and putts and we'll see what happens," added
the Indian.
Like Atwal, O'Hern is looking for his first win on the European Tour but
he'll need a better finish in the final round to have a chance.
"I am a little bit annoyed at the last couple of holes but there is not much I can
do about it as I hit the putts I wanted and they just didn't go in. The good
thing is I am only a shot out of it. The main thing is to put myself in a
position to have a chance on the last nine on Sunday and that is what I have
done," said O'Hern.
Korea's Charlie Wi, Japan's Sushi Ishigaki and Australian Richard Green are
three behind Atwal. Wi, who finished second on last year's Davidoff Tour
Order of Merit, shot a 72. His round included an eagle on the par-four 14th,
where he holed a six iron from 175 yards.
SCORES (after 54 holes): 206 _ Arjun Atwal (IND) 70-69-67; 207 _ Nick O'Hern
(AUS) 64-71-72; 208 _ Jim Johnson (USA) 69-67-72; 209 _ Charlie Wi (KOR)
70-67-72, Sushi Ishigaki (JPN) 72-68-69, Richard Green (AUS) 69-72-68; 210 _
Nick Faldo (ENG) 68-69-73, Carlos Rodiles (ESP) 66-72-72; 211 _ Ted Purdy
(USA) 69-69-73, Richard Johnson (SWE) 72-70-69, Chris Williams (ENG)
67-71-73; 212 _ James Kingston (RSA) 70-70-72, Prayad Marksaeng (THA)
68-71-73, Terry Pilkadaris (AUS) 70-72-70, Zhang Lian-Wei (PRC) 69-74-69,
Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 67-74-71
Other Indians: 213 (T-17) _ Gaurav Ghei 69-70-74; 216 (T-44) _ Jyoti
Randhawa 67-75-74; 217 (T-56) _ Harmeet Kahlon 69-71-77
