Classic Indian Open
Calcutta Golf Club
Calcutta, India
12th - 15th March 1998

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Ali makes the most of home advantage

Calcutta, India, 14th March 1998 - India's Firoz Ali made the most of his local knowledge of the Royal Calcutta Golf Club today by firing a five under par 67 for a three shot lead going into the final round of the Omega Tour's US$300,000 Classic Indian Open.

Joint leader at the start of the day, Ali carded six birdies and a solitary bogey and heads the leaderboard from America's Dean Wilson, who posted a 69, and Hong Kong-based American Scott Rowe, who lies third on eight under par after returning a 67.

"My putting has improved a great deal this week, and it went very well again today," said Ali, runner-up in the 1992 Indian Open.

"When I was in Myanmar last week Jyoti Randhawa gave me a few putting tips and they definitely paid off today. Also, I think I have an advantage living so near to this course and being able to play it so often."

Ali started his birdie blitz when he holed out from 12 feet at the third, and moved to two under for the day with a chip to four feet for another birdie at the par five fourth. He completed a front nine 33 with another birdie from five feet at the eighth.

Currently third on the PGA Indian Tour, Ali looked in danger of dropping a shot on the 10th when he failed to reach the green in regulation. But the 26-year-old Calcuttan chipped in from 40 feet, and followed it with another birdie from 12 feet at the 12th. His final birdie of the day came at the par five 15th, where he chipped to three feet, before dropping a stroke on the 17th when he hit his tee-shot into the water.

"I've already reached my goal for this tournament, which was eight under par, but to win it I think I'm going to have to shoot at least 68 tomorrow," added Ali, 41st last week in the London Myanmar Open.

"I've learnt a great deal since playing on the Omega Tour, competing in different conditions and countries. I've also been able to learn from the other Indian players who I travel with."

Playing alongside Ali, Wilson toured the Calcutta layout with an eagle, three birdies and two bogeys, playing the front half in one under and coming home two under par.

"At the 15th, I think I was eight behind Ali, and knew that I had to make a charge for any chance in the last round," said 28-year-old Wilson, fourth in the 1997 Classic Indian Open.

Thankfully I hit a three wood to three feet for an eagle, and then managed to pick up birdies at the 17th and 18th.

"Ali played a superb round today, and if he plays the same tomorrow it's going to take a 63 or 64 just to catch him."

Rowe, who only turned professional seven months ago, moved from eleventh overnight into third place thanks to five birdies in a faultless 67. The former Canadian junior swimming champion toured the front half in 34 and returned with a 33.

"The course suits me this week and I feel very comfortable playing it," said 23-year-old Rowe, a two-time Hong Kong amateur champion. "Although I'm six feet five tall, I'm not particularly long off the tee and with the rain we've had over the past couple of days the course is playing quite long. It requires a lot of mid-irons into the greens and I'm definitely an iron player."

Korea's Choi Kyung-ju lies in fourth place on six under par after carding his second consecutive 69, one shot ahead of his compatriot Nam Young-woo, who lies joint fifth after posting a two under par 70.