NEW DELHI: Richie Ramsay of Scotland held on to his lead despite struggling with a cold putter in the third round of the Hero Indian Open yesterday.
Ramsay, who has held on to the lead since day one, posted a one-under-par 70 for 11-under-par 202 to hold a narrow one-shot lead over Asian Tour Qualifying School graduate Jaakko Makitalo of Finland.
Makitalo, playing one flight in front of Ramsay, charged into contention for a first Asian Tour win as he returned with a 68 at the $1.25 million event.
Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant (67), winner of the 2005 Hero Indian Open and 19-year-old Panuphol Pittayarat (69) were a further shot back, along with James Morrison (67) of England at the Karnataka Golf Association course.
Ramsay, who is playing on a sponsor’s invitation, knows it will be a close race to the finishing line.
“I found it tough to play with the wind blowing all over the place. I needed to make some putts, which I didn’t. It was a case of being close but not close enough today,” said Ramsay, a two-time winner in Europe.
“It is surprising to be leading in a tournament with the way I putted. If I can putt better, then I think there’s a better score out there,” he added.
Makitalo eagled the par five 11th hole for the second successive day after hitting his hybrid to four feet from the hole. He could have shared the lead if not for a bogey on the last.
Kim Dae-hyun fires 66 to take joint lead in Korea
In Seoul, South Korean Kim Dae-hyun fired a tournament best of five-under-par 66 yesterday to grab a share of the lead going into the final round of OneAsia’s Kolon Korea Open.
He moved to joint three-under-par alongside fellow countryman Kim Dae-sub, who shot 70, leaving the pair three shots clear of Kang Wook-soon, who made 69 at the Woo Jeong Hills Country Club course.
Kang Kyung-nam, who led for the first two rounds, was a shot further back with a share of fourth place after slumping to a 77.
Kim Dae-hyun, runner up on OneAsia’s Order of Merit in 2010 when he won the GS Caltex Maekyung Open, has made just two cuts on the circuit this year, although he won a matchplay event on the Korea Tour tour last month.
“This is a very difficult tournament this year, so any score under par is good,” he said after a round that included seven birdies and two bogeys. “I am not sure if I could go five under par again.”
Kim Dae-sub is hunting for a third Korea Open title — but his first as a professional — after winning as a 16-year-old amateur in 1998 and repeating the feat in 2001.
His performance is even more remarkable given he has not played tournament golf for nearly two years, having only just completed his compulsory military service.
“I am just trying to play steady and not expect too much,” he said, despite winning last month on the Korean Tour, three weeks after being discharged after a 20-month service stint which allowed him time to play at weekends.
Kang, the only player to shoot the first two rounds under par, was six over on a day his putter went cold — particularly on the ninth, when he four-putted for a triple bogey.
Star attraction Ryo Ishikawa from Japan is not out of the tournament after shooting a third-round 69 that leaves him six shots behind the leaders and alone in 11th place.
Y.E. Yang, the first player from Asia to win a major and runner up in last week’s Nanshan China Masters, shot a 72 to stand at two over for the tournament.
Ramsay stays in front at Hero Indian Open
