Keshav Mishra who rewrote the history books with a stunning nine-under par 63 yesterday, is all set to claim the Royal Challenge Indian Golf Tour's inaugural event, the Northern Indian Amateur title.
Inspired by his record-breaking performance, the 26-year-old played another scintillating round of three-under 69 to extend his lead to ten strokes after the third round being played at the par-72 Army Golf Course in New Delhi on Thursday. Keshav's three-day total reads at 11-under 205.
Cricketing legend Kapil Dev submitted a card of one-under 71 today to share the fifth position along with Vikramjit Singh. The duo have a 54-total of two-over 218.
Keshav began with a birdie on the opening hole but dropped a stroke on the very next hole. The cherry-faced amateur whose career best is a 10-under par at the Hong Kong Open in 2001, fired consecutive birdies on the fourth and fifth, the former with a 20-footer effort.
Keshav, playing steady golf added two more birdies to his kitty on the 10th and 14th to stay well ahead of the field.
"I just played consistent golf. I will still play the way I have been thus far and try to shoot a low score, irrespective of the lead," said the IOCL-employed lad.
Meanwhile, Ranjit Singh who had scored a four-under par 68 in the second round, met with fluctuating fortunes today. Bogies on the third, fourth and the eighth along with a birdie on the fifth saw him take the turn at two-over.
After a birdie-bogey start on his return journey, the 19-year-old made an eagle on the par-5 12th. A good driver and a 7-iron iron left him with a 15-footer for the eagle. A birdie on the 14th was enough for him to go one-under for the day.
"It was a good experience to play with Simarjeet and Vikrant, who are the top players on the circuit. I was a little
conscious before I found my wonted form," said the shy-natured Ranjit.
Simarjeet Singh also had a similar round. An unfortunate loss of ball on the par-5 eighth saw the Oil India employee losing three strokes.
Scores (after 54 Holes): 205_Keshav Misra (73, 63, 69); 215_Ranjit Singh (76, 68, 71); 216_Simarjeet Singh (70, 73, 73), Vikrant Chopra (71, 72, 73); 218_Kapil Dev (75, 72, 71), Vikramjit Singh (74, 69, 75); 219_Vikram Rana (75, 73, 71); 220_Gagan Verma (74, 73, 73), 221_AS Lehal (75, 73, 73), Gaganjeet Bhullar (75, 72, 74), Jagmoh S Gill (70, 72, 79).