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Huxtable hanging on to the lead

Bagan, Myanmar, 7th March 1998 - American Robert Huxtable stayed on course for the first victory of his professional career despite firing a disappointing two-over-par 74 in the third round of the Omega Tour's season opening US$225,000 London Myanmar Open.

Huxtable, who started the day with a three stroke advantage, tops the leaderboard on seven under by one shot from Vivek Bhandari of India, who toured the 7,147-yard Bagan Resort layout in one-under-par 71.

"It was pretty tough out there today – the conditions were quite different from the first two rounds and I think I made a few mental mistakes," said the 33-year-old Huxtable after carding one birdie and three bogies.

"It was one of those day when I just had to hang in there. It would have been nice to pick up a few shots on the rest of the field but I am fairly happy with the way it went," added Huxtable.

Huxtable dropped his first shot of the day on the par-four fifth were he went over the green and failed to get up and down. After touring the front half with a one over 37 the American dropped another shot immediately after the turn when he found a bunker tucked behind the 10th green. He pulled one back with a 20-foot birdie putt at the 13th but dropped another shot on the 16th where he once again he failed to get up and down from a sand trap.

Bhandari, meanwhile, carded four birdies, one double bogey and a bogey to move into unknown territory on the Omega Tour.

"This is the strongest position I have ever been in on the Omega Tour. I am happy with the way I played because I was two over after three holes but pulled it together later," said the 26 year old from Delhi.

"I intend to go and attack the course tomorrow. I am sure I will be very nervous but hopfeully I can turn this into my advantage," said Bhandari, winner of last year's India PGA Championship.

While Huxtable and then Bhandari lead the way, the London Myanmar Open is wide open with a high calibre pack in hot pursuit. Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng, Pakistan's rising young star Taimur Hussain, American Ted Purdy, and India's Jyoti Randhawa lie two behind Huxtable while another stroke back is China's Zhang Lian-wei and India's Gaurav Ghei.