Surya Nepal Masters: Chikka takes three-shot lead in round three

Kathmandu, Nepal: Chikkarangappa (69-65-67) of Bangalore submitted a card of five-under-67 to take a three-shot lead in round three of the Surya Nepal Masters 2014 being played at the Gokarna Forest Golf Resort in Kathmandu. Chikkarangappa’s total stood at 15-under-201 at the end of the penultimate round. Abhinav Lohan (69-69-66) of Faridabad occupied second place at 12-under-204.

Chikkarangappa, who was overnight tied second, took centrestage on day three after a brilliant round of 67 that was dotted with seven birdies and two bogeys. The 20-year-old, looking for his second title, had a sedate front nine with three birdies and two bogeys. Chikka, the 2013 PGTI Emerging Player of the Year, then sank four birdies in what was an error-free second nine.

Abhinav Lohan came up with the day’s joint best score of 66 thanks to his effort of seven birdies against a lone bogey. He thus climbed five places on the leaderboard.

Feroz Ali Mollah of Kolkata also recorded a 66, the day’s joint best score, to climb from overnight tied 11th spot to tied third position at 11-under-205. Mollah made an eagle, seven birdies and three bogeys on Friday.

Kolkata’s Shankar Das joined Feroz in tied third place after posting a 68. Das’ round included a splendid run of five consecutive birdies from the ninth to the 13th.

Round two leader Shamim Khan of Delhi dropped to tied fifth place after returning a 73 on Friday. Chandigarh’s Anhijit Singh Chadha shared fifth position with Shamim at 10-under-206.

Panchkula’s Angad Cheema, who was lying joint second after round two, slipped to seventh spot after a round of 73 on day three that took his total to nine-under-207.

Defending champion Shivaram Shrestha of Nepal was a further shot back in eighth place as he carded a 69 on Friday.