The final day of the HT Pro Golf 2003 is expected to be a thriller as the lead changed hands for the third successive day at the par-72 Classic Golf Resort in Gurgaon on Friday.
Kolkata pro Rahil Gangjee submitted a card of four-under 68 to take his tally to 10-under 206 and emerge as the new leader in the Rs 800,000 event which forms the 22nd leg of the Hero Honda Golf Tour.
Overnight leader Shiv Prakash returned an even-par card to share the second spot with Indrajit Bhalotia, both having tallied eight_under 208. Gaurav Ghei and SSP Chowrasia were joint fourth on 209 while the duo of Vijay Kumar and Rafiq Ali were in the tied-sixth position.
Rahil Gangjee, known for his cheerful character on the Tour, had more than one reason to cheer today after playing a bogey-free round. A birdie on the seventh was pick of his four birdies. Hitting his driver shot against the wind, Rahil had to use a 6-iron to reach the green and found the pin from 20 feet for a birdie.
A par and a birdie on the finishing holes in a similar fashion where he chipped and putt from behind the green were the other features of the 24-year-old's round. The other birdies came on the sixth and 16th where he holed a 16-footer on the latter.
'The conditions were tough. It was hard to find the greens. However my only aim is to win the title," said Rahil whose best finish this year has been a third sport at the Tata Steel Open in Jamshedpur.
Meanwhile, Rahil's citymate Indrajit Bhalotia who led on the first day, submitted a card of one-under 71. Known as the longest driver on the Indian tour, Bhalotia reached the greens on most occasions in regulation but failed to convert them into birdies. In fact he drove to 358 yards on the 18th hole, which fetched him the 'Longest Drive for Professionals' award to be presented later in the evening.
The Kolkata pro after a birdie on the third went on to bogey the seventh before making the turn with a birdie. He began his return journey with a bogey and finished with a consolation birdie.
"I still haven't got my putting going. But I am hopeful of a better round on the final day," said Bhalotia who had 31 putts for the day.
Sharing the honours with Bhalotia was veteran pro Shiv Prakash. The Kanpur pro holed three birdies (third, ninth and 17th) while also bogeying the second, 11th and 13th to return level par.
"I am upset with my short game. I could have played a much better round," said Shiv, who led on the second day.
Scores (after 54 holes): 206_Rahil Gangjee (69,69,68); 208_Indrajit Bhalotia (66,71,71), Shiv Prakash (69,67,72); 209_Gaurav Ghei (67,72,70), SSP Chowrasia (66,71,72); 210_Vijay Kumar (69,71,70), Rafiq Ali (70,68,72); 214_DS Raghuvanshi (68,74,72), Ashok Kumar (70,70,74); 215_D Patel (72,71,72), Yusuf Ali (72,71,72); 216_Shamim Khan (74,71,71); 217_Amritinder Singh (72.72,73), Pappan (72,72,73); 218_Naman Dawar (72,72,74), Jaiveer Virk (72,69,77).
Amateurs: 226_Aditya Singh (75,74,77); 227_Chirag Kumar (73,76,78); 240_Arjun Singh (73,81,86).