Last-gasp birdie propels Kim to top, Gangjee one behind
>> OSAKA: South Korea’s Kim HyungSung denied India’s Rahil Gangjee a share of the day’s honours by sinking a birdie at the last hole to snatch the outright lead with his third round four-under-par 67 at the Panasonic Open Golf Championship yesterday.
Kim’s three-day total of 12-underpar 201 gave him a slender shot lead over Gangjee, who returned with a 68 at the Ibaraki Country Club where the ¥150 million (approximately US$1,370,000) Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO) cosanctioned event is being held.
Flamboyant Shingo Katayama of Japan returned with a 70 to take third place while Korean-American Kim Sih-Wan still stands an outside chance of winning the Panasonic Swing series when he signed for a 68 to share fourth place with overnight leader Rikuya Hoshino of Japan and Korea’s Hwang Jung-Gon.
India’s Ajeetesh Sandhu also remained in contention for his second Asian Tour win after he carded a 68 which took him to a share of seventh place that also included Yuta Ikeda of Japan and Philippines’ Miguel Tabuena.
Kim started the day tied for second alongside Gangjee and four others. He birdied his second hole before mixing a bogey and birdie on holes five and six respectively. After turning in 34, the Korean made his move with a pair of birdies on 12 and 13 before a closing birdie on 18 saw him take pole position on his own.
Gangjee, who has been winless on the Asian Tour since 2004, fired his first salvo with two opening birdies. He dropped a shot on six but recovered well with another pair of birdies on eight and nine.
The 39-year-old Indian then struggled in his back-nine as he was caught off guard by the swirling winds that proved to be a huge challenge.