Raphael Jacquelin takes over lead on difficult day

Raphael Jacquelin overcame testing course conditions to card an even-par 72 and lead by one shot after the third round of the Indian Masters on Saturday.

The 33-year-old Frenchman carded a six-under 210 with overnight leader Damien McGrane of Ireland (75), Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell (73) and Spaniard Jose Manuel Lara (71) tied for second at the Delhi Golf Club.

South African world number four Ernie Els shot the day's best of 69 to move back to within four strokes of the lead after struggling on the first two days.

Shifting winds, tough pins and greens withered by the winter where putting proved a nightmare frustrated the players.

Jacquelin bogeyed three holes on the back nine but bagged a 16-foot eagle three on the 14th which helped him take the lead in the tournament co-sanctioned by the European and Asian tours.

Indian pair Shivshankar Chowrasia (71) and Arjun Atwal (72) were tied for fifth on 212. Four local players were among the top 10.

Jacquelin, winner twice on the European Tour, was relieved.

"It was difficult, a good test," he told reporters. "I'm a little bit disappointed the way I putted today, I didn't hole any except the eagle on 14.

"I just had to concentrate on my game, put the ball in play off the tee. That was the key."

Els rightly predicted in the morning that the leaders teeing off later in the day would find the going tough.

Having just made the cut at one over par after two rounds, he reined in his attacking instinct after being among the first to tee off in the morning.

He gained one shot on the front nine and then landed four birdies in the last six holes, marred only by a bogey five on the 15th after finding the bushes off the tee and then needing two putts.

McGrane carded five bogeys, three on the back nine which pulled him back while Lara produced a rare bogey-free round with his only birdie three on the fifth hole keeping him in the hunt for the title.