Rashid lying seventh, but in running for a spot for The Open; Kuchar leads

Sentosa, Singapore, Jan 18: Rashid Khan had an eventful day with six birdies, but he also had four bogeys to finish at two-under 69 on the third day of the SMBC Singapore Open on Saturday.

The 28-year-old wiry Delhi golfer, who has two Asian Tour wins, is lying seventh, but way behind the runaway leader Matt Kuchar, who shot nine under 62 to move to 17-under and a four-shot lead over Asia No.1 Jazz Janewattananond (67) and Filipino Miguel Tabuena (66) who are 14-under at the US$1 million event, sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO).

Rashid will have an added incentive as he can also earn a berth to the 149th(British) Open Championship at Royal St. George’s if he is one of the top four who are not otherwise exempt to the Major.

Canadian Richard Lee (65) and Korean teenager Kim Joohyung (67) are tied fourth at 13-under while the reigning Olympic champion, Justin Rose (68) at 11-under is sixth and Rashid (69) at eight-under is seventh.

Currently Rashid is the fourth best, as among those ahead of him, Kuchar, Jazz and Rose are already qualified for the Open.

“I know about the spots available for the Open, but no pressure. I just want to do my best and the rest will come by itself,” said Rashid, a three-time winner of the Order of Merit on Indian domestic Tour.

Among the other Indians, SSP Chawrasia (69) is T-36, Rahil Gangjee (72) is T-39, Khalin Joshi (72) is T-57 and Shiv Kapur (74) is T-68.

Rashid, who shot 66 on the second day, had six birdies including three in a row from the third to the fifth after opening with a bogey. He added birdies on 10th, 14thand 18thbut dropped shots on first, eighth, 11thand 12thand admitted to having left a few shots on the course.

American Kuchar’s 62 will not go into the record books as preferred lies were used at the Serapong Course. Thee 2016 Olympic Games bronze medalist and a nine-time winner on the PGA TOUR, had four birdies on his front-nine and another five in his back nine for a total of 17-under 196.

Read also:

Round 2 – In-form Rashid shoots 66 to get into Top-10 as 5 Indians make cut

Round 1 – Chiragh best Indian at ninth in Singapore Open; Hamamoto leads

Rashid leads group of 13 Indians at Singapore Open golf

Rashid best Indian at sixth in Hong Kong; Ormsby wins title

 

 

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