Singh survives scare to maintain grip in Okinawa Open
India's
Jeev Milkha Singh overcame a double bogey scare to preserve his
overnight four-shot lead after the third round of the Asia Japan
Okinawa Open today.
Singh returned a two-under-par 69 at Naha Golf Club as he took
a step closer towards ending a five-year winless run. However, he
had to survive some anxious moments after sending his tee shot out
of bounds on the 13th hole before running up a six.
He recovered strongly with birdies on 15 and 17 and will head into
Sunday's final round well clear of Japan's Hideki Kase, who moved
into the title frame with a fine 66. First round leader Charlie
Wi of Korea kept within striking reach with a 69 to lie five back
along with Australian Scott Barr and Japan's Soushi Tajima.
The US$830,000 Okinawa Open is jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour
and Japan Golf Tour and is the first counting event for the 2005
season for both Tours.
"It was very steady round until the 13th. I pulled my tee
shot to the left and I never thought it was going to be out of bounce.
I actually did not know the OB was there but the ball kicked left
when it hit the cart path," said Singh, who registered five
birdies and one bogey to go with his 13th hole misfortune.
Singh, who has a three-day total of 15-under-par 198, said his
family's support has been influential this week. "On the phone
last night with my family, they told me to not think about the result.
They said to just try to concentrate on what I have to face on each
shot.
"Hitting into out of bounds made me panic. I do not normally
look at the leaderboard but this time, I did. The game changed after
that hole but my caddie helped me as well and it was good to birdie
15 and 17," said Singh, who shot a course record 62 on Friday.
Kase kept up the home challenge with a six-birdie round to lie
on 202 while Tajima, winner of the Asian Qualifying School in 2000,
also shot a 66 to keep up his title charge on 203 with Wi and Barr,
who shot a 68.
Leading third round scores
198 - Jeev Milkha Singh (IND) 67-62-69
202 - Hideki Kase (JPN) 68-68-66
203 - Soushi Tajima (JPN) 69-68-66, Scott Barr (AUS) 67-68-68,
Charlie Wi (KOR) 65-69-69
India's
Jeev Milkha Singh overcame a double bogey scare to preserve his
overnight four-shot lead after the third round of the Asia Japan
Okinawa Open today.
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