Jeev third at Alfred Dunhill

MUMBAI, JAN 18: India8217;s lone golfer to qualify for the European PGA, Chiranjeev Milkha Singh, made a sensational start to his season with a joint third place at the four lakh pound Alfred Dunhill South African PGA Championship, according to information reaching here.

Jeev carded a two-under 70 on the final day to aggregate eight-under 280 at the 7,311-yard, par-72 Houghton Golf Club in Johannesburg. His first three days scores stood at one-over 73, 69 and 68 for his best finish ever on the tour. His previous best came at last year8217;s National Car Rental English Open where he tied for the eighth spot. The third place at Johannesburg will see him open the 1999 Volvo Order of Merit perched on the third place after earning Euros 26,097 for his effort.

Looking back, the Chandigarh based pro will rue the hattrick of bogeys from 16th onwards on Day One which he attributed to lapse of concentration.8217;

The tournament was won by Ernie Els of the host nation with an aggregate of 15-under 273.

LEADINGSCORES

273: Ernie Els 67696968; 277: Richard Kaplan 68706970; 280: ChiranJeev Milkha Singh 73696870, Steve Webster 69736870, Stephen Leaney 73687069, David Frost 70737166.