Aditi closes in on top-10 finish at LA

Los Angeles, April 22: Golfer Aditi Ashok made a superb charge on the back nine with two birdies and an eagle on a par-4 at the Hugel-JTBC Los Angeles Open to close in on her first top-10 finish of the season.

Aditi, playing her second season, shot 2-under 69 to move to tied ninth after the third round on Saturday. She had rounds of 68 and 73 on the first two days at the Wilshire Country Club.

Aditi had a sedate start with just one bogey on the very first hole on the front nine and that brought her back from overnight 1under to even par.

She birdied the 10th, but gave that back on 11th. An eagle on par-4 14th set her up nicely and she added a birdie on par-4 16th and ended at 69 to be 3-under for the tournament.

Moriya Jutanugarn (70) and Jin Young-Ko (66) were in shared lead at 9-under 204.

LAHIRI SLIPS IN TEXAS In San Antonio, USA, a day after making a great comeback in the second round, Anirban Lahiri slipped to tied 66th in the third round of the Valero Texas Open.

Lahiri, now playing his third full season on the PGA Tour, shot 1-over 73 in the third round and was lying tied 66th as compared to tied 48th at the midway stage.

Once again his problems were on the greens, where he missed at least two to three putts around 10 feet and another couple between 11 and 14 feet. He also took a penalty once and generally had a disappointing day. Zach Johnson maintained a share of the lead following a 4-under 68. — PTI