India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar fired a sparkling 10-under 62 to open up a two-shot lead in the weather-hit third round at the Indonesia President Invitational yesterday.
The 21-year-old compiled a blemish-free card with 10 birdies, holing out an audacious closing birdie on the 18th hole in fading light for a three-day total of 17-under 199 at the Damai Indah Golf and Country Club.
It gave the talented Indian, chasing his first Asian Tour title, a great chance to avenge his loss in the US$400,000 event two years ago when he was beaten by one stroke by Filipino Juvic Pagunsan’s birdie, eagle finish.
Australian Adam Blyth is in second place on 15-under after going four-under through 12 holes of his third round when play was suspended at 6pm. A lightning storm in the early afternoon forced a four-hour suspension, which will mean 27 players resume their rounds at 6.45am today.
“It feels almost like 2007 again, but there is still one day to go, 18 more holes to go,” said the highly rated Bhullar, the joint third-round leader two years ago. “I’m confident going into the final round and I’m hitting the ball well.”
With lightning storms disrupting play for the past two days, Blyth knows it could come down to a mental test today if he is to break through for his first Asian Tour victory.
“It is a test with the stops and restarts. We’ve got five holes left for tomorrow and we’ll see what we can do, but Bhullar is playing really well,” Blyth said.
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