Golfer Himmat close to maiden win at ISPS

Indian golfer Himmat Rai sparkled with a bogey-free four-under 66 amid blustery conditions to keep a share of the lead and inch closer to his maiden Asian Tour title after the third round of the ISPS Handa Singapore Classic on Saturday.

The 24-year-old Indian, widely tipped as one of the promising stars on the circuit, braved the winds which were so strong on the 18th that players even felt that play could have been stopped or called off.

Himmat, has had rounds of 68, 66 and 66 to total 10-under 200. He has been bogey-free for the last 30 holes now and is tied for lead with Adilson Da Silva of Brazil (65).

The duo was two clear of last year's runner-up Jbe Kruger (65)

Experienced Thaworn Wiratchant, looking for his 13th Asian Tour win, shot an even-par 70 and dropped to tied sixth at six-under 204.

Of the other Indians who have made the cut, Anirban Lahiri (70), Abhishek Jha (67) and Vinod Kumar (67) were all tied 30th at one-under 209, while Sujjan Singh (70) and Ashok Kumar (70) were tied at 50th at one-over and Mandeo Pathania (73) was four-over 214 in tied 63rd place.