Chikka and Rashid slump at Thailand

Bangkok, June 9: Indian golfers S. Chikkarangappa and Rashid Khan slipped down the leaderboard after the third round of the Thailand Open here on Saturday.

Chikka, who was second after the first round and then seventh after the second, carded even par 70 to emerge as the best Indian at T- 18th. Rashid Khan ( 73), on the other hand, slipped to T- 39th.

However, Rahil Gangjee ( 66) made a big move to T23rd.

Among other Indians, Gaganjeet Bhullar ( 68) was T- 39th and Chiragh Kumar ( 70) was T- 58th and Viraj Madappa ( 71) lied at T- 64th.

Gangjee, who had the best card among all the Indians, fired five birdies against one bogey.

Home favourite Panuphol Pittayarat birdied last two holes for a four- under- par 66 to pull one shot clear.

Panuphol returned with a bogey free card to lead on 13- under- par 197 and put himself in prime position to win his second Asian Tour title at the Thai Country Club.

Poom Saksansin trailed closely in second place after matching Panuphol's 66 while overnight leader Sarit Suwannarut posted a 69 to lie in third place, two shots from the lead at the USD 3,00,000 Asian Tour event.

Asian Tour rookie Kurt Kitayama stayed in the title hunt following a 66 to share fourth place with four- time Asian Tour winner, Chapchai Nirat, who fired a blistering 64 for a 200 total.

Jeev, Ajeetesh, Shiv miss

cut in Austria

In a disappointing finish for the country at the Shot Clock Masters, the three Indians in the fray — Ajeetesh Sandhu ( 77- 70), Jeev Milkha Singh ( 82- 82) and Shiv Kapur ( 79, withdrawn) — have missed the halfway cut.

Mikko Korhonen produced a big finish to sign for a flawless 67 and take a one- shot lead into the weekend.

Korhonen birdied three of his last four holes to stay bogey- free for the week and get to nine under, one shot clear of Steve Webster and Justin Walters. Matthias Schwab, Wu Ashun, Miguel ngel Jimnez, Dane Jeppe Pape Huldahl were then two shots off the lead.

— Agencies