Rashid maintains lead, eyes amateur title

By OUR CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI

Overnight leader Rashid Khan maintained his five stroke lead over Gagan Verma as both carded an identical score of 1-under par 71 on Thursday during the third round of the LG Northern India Amateur. The 17-year-old Khan’s 54-hole total stood at 6-under 210.

Verma is placed second at 215, while Saurabh Bahuguna moved into the third position with a round of level par 72 for a tournament total of 220.

"The way I was putting, at one point I thought I would not be able to hole even a 2-footer. Luckily my irons saved the day for me," said Rashid on his errant putting. "It was quite frustrating on the greens," added the leader.

"Although I have a five-shot lead, I will not take it easy. I would like to play my natural game," a confident Khan said, when asked about his gameplan for the final round.

Asked if thought he was poised for a late surge, Verma said, "It is a tough task given the form of Rashid, but I will certainly go all out to try and take it from him."

Top scores (after 54 holes): 210 Rashid Khan (70, 69, 71); 215 Gagan Verma (75, 69, 71); 220 Saurabh Bahuguna (71, 77, 72); 225 Pawan Kumar Sr. (79, 70, 76); 226 Wasim Khan (79, 73, 74), Kanishk Madan (74, 74, 78), Moin Malak (74, 71, 81); 228 Tarun Ghogale (81, 72, 75), Jasjeet Singh (75, 75, 78); 229 Rahul Bajaj (73, 78, 78), Abhinav Lohan (77, 71, 81).