Phachara and Gavin Green (left) and Shubhankar (right). Pix: Paul Lakatos / Asian Tour
August 13: Shubhankar Sharma made a sharp move up with a solid 4-under 68 to get to 9-under which saw him rise to T-12 on the moving day of the US$1.5 million third International Series Singapore today at Tanah Merah Country Club. Sharma’s card may have looked even better but for a late bogey on 17th. But he quickly made up for it with a birdie on 18th.
Veer Ahlawat continued to be the top Indian even though he barely made a move on the third day. He had a bogey on second and a birdie on 17th and parred the rest, while missing a handful of birdie chances for an even 72. He stays at 10-under but slipped from overnight third to Tied-eighth.
Sharma had six birdies against two bogeys and looked in fine form and set for a strong challenge on the final day.
Malaysian Gavin Green (72) maintained his lead but was joined by Phachara Khongwatmai (69) from Thailand. They were both at 14-under and led by one over Chinese-Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang (66) and Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong (68), who had two eagles. Nitithorn achieved the rare feat of making two eagles on par fours on the front, on three and nine.
Chan and Nitithorn are a shot behind the leaders. following rounds of 66 and 68 respectively; while England’s Steve Lewton came in with a 69 to sit a stroke further back.
Jyoti Randhawa, who turned 50 in May this year, started on the 10th and double bogeyed the 11th. But he quickly turned things around with birdies on 13th, 14th and 18th make the turn in 1-under 35. On the second nine he had four birdies between third and eighth for a day’s work of 67 as he moved to T-20th, up from overnight T-46. Randhawa’s eight Asian Tour wins include one in Singapore more than two decades ago in 2000. He also won once in Japan.
Rashid Khan (71) was T-41 as was Ajeetesh Sandhu (70), while Gaganjeet Bhullar, winner in Indonesia last week, and SSP Chawrasia, both shot 72 and were T-57. Aman Raj, who has a stunning hole in one on the second day shot 73 and was T-67th/
Play was stopped at 11.10am and resumed at 1.30pm because of inclement weather.
Both Green and Phachara are chasing their second wins on the Asian Tour, with Green having won the Mercuries Taiwan Masters in 2017, and the latter the 2021 Laguna Phuket Championship.
Chan will no doubt be a threat tomorrow having won four times on Tour, including the Blue Canyon Championship last November and the Royal’s Cup in four months later.
American Peter Uihlein, a former US amateur champion, fired a 67 and is three off the lead along with Jaco Ahlers from South Africa, who carded a 69. Patrick Reed, the American who claimed the 2018 Masters, was unable to mount a challenge on moving day and shot a 72 and is three under for the tournament.
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Veer Ahlawat is the top Indian at 19th as Chawrasia, Sharma and Sandhu are 26th in Singapore
Ahlawat continues love affair with Singapore, shoots superb 65, rises to third
