Pune: C Muniyappa (63-66-72) of Bangalore returned a sedate one-over-72 to stay eight shots clear of the field in round three of the PGTI’s Final Qualifying Stage for the 2014 season being held at the Poona Club Golf Course in Pune. Muniyappa’s total score now reads 12-under-201. American national Rahul Bakshi carded a three-under-68 to be placed second at four-under-209.
Muniyappa’s third round saw him stumble with two double-bogeys and a bogey against his four birdies. The 37-year-old pulled his tee shot into the trees on the second resulting in a double-bogey. His other double-bogey on the fifth came as a result of his second shot landing out of bounds. Muniyappa limited the damage by converting two 10-feet birdie putts on the fourth and sixth. His back-nine was better as he made birdies on the 11th and 18th and a bogey on the 13th.
“The two errors on the front-nine resulted in a loss of four shots. I was a little unlucky on the fifth where I hit a good shot but it rebounded off a tree and went out of bounds. I missed a lot putts today. I failed to convert four putts from a distance of three feet. Nonetheless, I still enjoy a substantial lead and the performance in the first two rounds has given me a lot of confidence for the coming season,” said Muniyappa.
Chandigarh-based Rahul Bakshi (67-74-68) made four birdies and a bogey in his third round to be placed second.
Karan Taunk of Jamshedpur fired an eagle on the par-4 15th besides three birdies and a bogey during his round of four-under-67. Taunk is currently placed third at three-under-210.
At the end of round four on Friday, the top 38 players will earn full cards for the 2014 PGTI season.
