Udayan, Aadil surge ahead in third round

Pune-based Udayan Mane continued to be on course to win a record fourth straight title on the TATA Steel PGTI as he surged ahead as the joint leader along with teenager Aadil Bedi of Chandigarh after round three of the Bengal Open Golf Championship 2020 being played at the Tollygunge Club in Kolkata.

PGTI Order of Merit leader Mane (67-63-67) and Bedi (65-6567) were tied for the lead at a total of 13-under-197. Both shot scores of three-under-67 at the `30 lakh event on Saturday.

Veteran Mukesh Kumar of Mhow, who too fired a 67 on day three, lurks in third place at 12under-198.

Delhi’s Kapil Kumar delivered the day’s best score of 65 to be placed tied 19th at five-under205. Nineteen-year-old Aadil, who was part of the four-way lead after round two along with Mane, Khalin Joshi and Om Prakash Chouhan, had a quiet opening stretch before he found his rhythm with his first birdie of the day on the seventh.

Aadil, an Asian Tour regular last year who lost out on his card at the Q School this season, made steady progress on the back-nine with chip-putt birdies coming his way on the 10th, 13th and 15th. Bedi also saved par from a tough spot on the 16th courtesy an excellent up and down. The only blemish on his card was the bogey on the 17th where he found the rough and then hit it over the green.

Bedi, who is in search of his maiden title, said, “It was a windy day and the conditions were tougher than the previous two days. struck it

But well

Aadil Bedi

I played solid, and capitalized with birdies on all the three par5s. I almost drove the 15th green today, a hole where I have made birdies on all three days this week.

“I have gained distance recently and that helped me set up so many chip-putt birdies today as I kept landing it close to the green. The hard work I’ve done on my driving and change of equipment has contributed in adding distance to my driver and 3-wood.

“I’ve enjoyed a good record at the Tollygunge Club as I won here twice as a junior. I’ve also shot a lot of low scores here in the past. So the good memories from the past should help me in the final round.”

Udayan struck a 15th consecutive sub-70 round on the PGTI to raise hopes of his record fourth successive title on the tour. Udayan four birdies included two 15-feet conversions on the third and 13th. The big-built golfer also landed his tee shot within three feet of the pin to pick up a birdie on the eighth.

Mane dropped his only bogey of the day on the seventh where he was in trouble from the outset having found the trees with his tee shot. He was also unable to push ahead towards the end having made pars on the last five holes.

Udayan said, “My iron-play was not up to the mark today. But I felt that I managed my round well despite the windy conditions. In these conditions, I’d take a three-under any time.

“I’ve been in contention quite often now so the confidence is high going into the last round.”

Mukesh, who last won at the Tollygunge Club at a PGTI event in 2010, is likely to a strong contender in the final round.