Ghei jumps into lead in Taipei

India's Gaurav Ghei flew on an eagle as he moved into the joint lead with Lin Chie-Hsiang of Chinese Taipei after the third round of the Taiwan Open in Taipei on Saturday.

Of the other Indians in the fray, Amandeep Johl was sharing the 10th place with 219 (77, 73, 69) while Vivek Bhandari and Harmeet Kahlon were joint 12th with a total score of 220.

It was Ghei's 36th birthday today and he celebrated it in style at the North Bay Golf and Country Club, shooting a three-under-par 69 that included a stunning eagle two in the US $300,000 Asian Tour event.

Overnight joint leader Lin, bidding for his third Taiwan Open crown, overcame a shaky start to sign for a 71 while Australian Terry Pilkadaris, fourth in the recent Kolon Korean Open, finished the day one stroke back after a 70.

Since winning his only major title in the 1995, Ghei's career has been hit by injuries and he was delighted to be contending in what is the 40th Taiwan Open.

"I'm really happy to be in the joint lead. I feel lucky and hopefully, it'll go my way tomorrow," said Ghei, who has a three-day total of two-under-par 214.

After birdies on the second and eighth holes and a bogey on 11, Ghei finished with a stroke of genius. He had 105 yards to the pin on the par four 16th and struck a sweet wedge that found the bottom of the cup for his eagle.

"I didn't see the ball go in as the hole plays uphill but I knew it had gone in as the crowd was cheering," said Ghei.

The Indian will have to fight with the 43-year-old Lin, who bogeyed his first hole and double bogeyed the third.

However, the local hope came charging back with five birdies against one more bogey.

For the first time this week, the wind stayed away which led to some superb scoring displays. Korea's Charlie Wi matched the course record with a blemish-free 64, thanks to six birdies and an eagle as he moved to within two strokes of the leaders.

Local hope Lin Wen-tang had seven birdies in his round of 65 to lie alongside Wi and Thailand's Thammanoon Srirot, who carded a 73, in equal fourth place.

Wi was the star of the day with his bogey-free card, as he continued his pursuit for a sixth career title in Asia.

Wielding a hot putter, the California-based Korean found the bottom of the cup regularly with putts from inside 20 feet.

His eagle on the fifth hole came after a cracking three iron to three feet of the hole.

Leading third round scores: 214 - Gaurav Ghei (IND) 73-72-69, Lin Chie-hsiang (TPE) 72-71-71; 215 - Terry Pilkadaris (AUS) 72-73-70; 216 - Lin Wen-tang (TPE) 78-73-65, Charlie Wi (KOR) 76-76-64, Thammanoon Srirot (THA) 70-73-73;  218 - Simon Yates (SCO) 76-72-70, Chen Chung-cheng (TPE) 76-71-71, Kim Felton (AUS) 76-71-71; 219 - Amandeep Johl (IND) 77-73-69, Hsieh Min-nan (TPE) 72-73-74; 220 - Gerald Rosales (PHI) 77-75-68, Lin Keng-chi (TPE) 73-76-71, Chang Tse-peng (TPE) 75-74-71, Vivek Bhandari (IND) 77-71-72, Rick Gibson (CAN) 79-69-72, Harmeet Kahlon (IND) 73-74-73, Hong Chia-yuh (TPE) 78-67-75, Lu Wen-teh (TPE) 74-72-74; 221 - Lu Wei-chih (TPE) 77-76-68, Brad Kennedy (AUS) 74-75-72, Chen Tze-chung (TPE) 73-74-74; 222 - Jonathan Cheetham (ENG) 74-75-73, Clay Devers (USA) 78-76-68; 223 - Boonchu Ruangkit (THA) 75-78-70, Sushi Ishigaki (JPN) 75-75-73, Kim Kyung-tae [A] (KOR) 79-75-69 ,Kao Bo-song (TPE) 74-74-75, Chen Liang-hsi (TPE) 76-71-76.