Early Times Report
JAMMU, Oct 6: Om Prakash Chouhan, the current leader in the TATA Steel PGTI Rankings from Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, showcased his golfing prowess by firing an impressive five-under 67 during round three of the J&K Open 2023 presented by J&K Tourism. This stellar performance catapulted him into the lead with a total score of eight-under 208, positioning himself as a strong contender at the Jammu Tawi Golf Course (JTGC).
Delhi's Kapil Kumar, who held the overnight lead, kept himself firmly in contention with a round of 72, landing him in second place with a score of seven-under 209 at this prestigious Rs. 50 lakh event.
Close on their heels are Gurugram's Manav Bais (68) and Chandigarh's Akshay Sharma (72), both tied for third place at five-under 211. Gurugram-based Shivendra Singh Sisodia also joined the chase, recording the day's best score of 67, which positioned him fifth at four-under 212. These contenders are expected to make the final day of the tournament highly competitive.
Om Prakash Chouhan, who was fourth at the halfway stage and four shots behind the leader, displayed an error-free round on Friday, capitalizing on his exceptional driving and tee shots. His pinpoint accuracy off the tee allowed him to find the fairways consistently, resulting in several birdie opportunities. Chouhan converted four out of five birdie chances from within 10 feet.
Reflecting on his performance, the 33-year-old Om Prakash Chouhan said, "My driving was the highlight of my game today. However, I did face some challenges with my putting. Heading into the final day with a bogey-free round boosts my confidence. In recent events, I've performed well in the last two days, and I aim to continue that trend."
"My strong driving and approach shots created numerous birdie opportunities today. Given the narrow fairways here at JTGC, hitting the fairway usually guarantees a par, and I managed to do that effectively today."
"In the final round, my focus will be on improving my putting, which has been somewhat inconsistent. I'll aim to play my natural game and avoid overexerting myself, as sometimes, trying too hard in the last round can be counterproductive."
Kapil Kumar relinquished his lead due to a steady round of 72, featuring four birdies and four bogeys.
Round 3 Leaderboard:
208: Om Prakash Chouhan (71-70-67)
209: Kapil Kumar (69-68-72)
211: Manav Bais (73-70-68); Akshay Sharma (68-71-72). |
