Randhawa moves up

Jeev Milkha Singh came up with an identical score but stayed at 44th in the penultimate round having logged six-over 219. Thailand’s Chawalit Plaphol maintained his lead despite carding one-over 72 in the third round.

The 24-year-old took a step closer to achieving his aim of finishing number one on the Asian PGA’s Omega Tour this year by completing the penultimate round a stroke ahead of the field thanks to some final hole heroics.

Stuck in some trees, 160 yards fromthe green on the 18th, he hit a masterful eight iron second shot that finished a foot from the cup.

He tapped in for a birdie that gave him a three-round total of six-under 207 and a one-shot lead over American Jerry Smith, who returned a five-under 66.

Jeev to lead challenge

NEW DELHI: Jeev Milkha Singh having ensured his European PGA card for 1999 will return to India for his sponsors’ tournament, the US $200,000 Hero Honda Masters, early next month. Jeev, who tallied almost 60,000 pounds this year from the EPGA is currently playing his first tournament on the Asian PGA at the Kuala Lumpur Open.

Jeev has been without a title for 18 months now. Ninth at the 1997 Hero Honda Masters, will lead an impressive Indian trio of title hopefuls, who have won once each on the APGA in its four-year existence. The other two are Gaurav Ghei, winner of the Indian leg of the APGA in 1995, and Firoze Ali, who this year won the Indian Open.

Close tussle

FARIDABAD: Jaipur professional Vishal Singhwent into sole lead, even as the Aravalli Golf Course pro Mohammed Yamin displaying true golfing character earned a disqualification by informing the referee that he had putted from the wrong spot on the 16th green. Vishal, who shared the top spot with Vijay Kumar overnight, shot a five-unbder 67, while Vijay Kumar playing alongside him shot a fine four under 68 to stay within striking distnce at the end of three rounds in the Royal Challenge Aravalli Open golf tournament here.