Kahlon slips to tied 18th

Harmeet Kahlon dropped two vital shots on the last two closing holes, but continued to be the best among the Indians at the end of the third round of the US $275,000 Macau Open.

Kahlon, who was tied 12th, shot a one-over 72 and slipped to tied 18th at three-under for the tournament. His first two rounds were 71 and 67.

Chinese Taipei veteran Wang Ter-chang fired two closing birdies for a four-under-par 67 to earn the third round lead and an attempt at ending a six-year title drought.

Among other Indians, who are still in the race for a good position in the top 20 include Arjun Singh, who shot a round of one-over 72 and is now tied 20th at two-under for three rounds and Amandeep Johl, who with his second successive par round of 71 was one-under for the tournament and in tied 24th place.

"It was not easy today, it was windy and blew in different directions. I played okay but one or two chips were not up to the mark. It was disappointing to bogey the 17th and 18th.

"But I still have one more round to play and try to move up. I wont be going to the Philippine Open next week, so it will be nice to finish off strongly here."

There are as many as eight Indians in the weekend rounds of the event. While Kahlon's tied 18th, Arjun Singh tied 20th and Johl tied 24th, Rahil Gangjee (71) is now 33rd at even par and Gurbaaz Mann (71) is one-over for 54 holes and tied 40th.

Uttam Singh Mundy slipped with a four-over 75 and is now three-over and tied 54th, while Sandy Lehal playing his first Asian Tour event is tied 61st after a third round of 74 and a total of five-over 218.

Kahlon had two birdies and two bogeys on the front nine and then another bogey saw him one over after 12. But birdies on the 13th and 15th placed him better before the closing two bogeys spoil this card.

Arjun Singh had trouble on eighth and ninth, where he double bogeyed and bogeyed to drop three shots. He had three birdies till then and then parred the back nine.

Johl had a mixed round with two birdies and two bogeys on front nine and then a double on 11th. But just when things looked bleak he roared back with birdies on 12th, 13th and 16th and salvaged a par round.

The 42-year-old Wang leads the Asian Tour event by one stroke from American Edward Loar, who charged into contention with a 66 at the par-71 Macau Golf and Country Club.

Defending champion Jason Knutzon and Australian rookie Jarrod Lyle, who was battling leukaemia just six years ago, share third place a further stroke back.

Former Masters champion Fred Couples fell out of the title chase, shooting a 69 and the popular American will enter the final round seven shots behind Wang, whose last victory was at the 1999 Myanmar Open. Overnight leader Lu Wei-lan of Chinese Taipei stumbled to a 73 for tied fifth place.

The 23-year-old Lyle, playing in his maiden season on the Asian Tour, was delighted to be battling for the eighth Macau Open title, just six years after his successful fight with leukaemia.

"I'm just loving every minute that I'm on top of the ground and not in the ground," said Lyle.

"I was diagnosed with leukaemia in 1999, took 18 months off from golf and had six days of chemotherapy and came through that. I was with a lot kids who didn't get out. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. It's always my dream to be a golfer and to be out here doing it and playing well is Incredible. I've got a new lease of life and you don't take things for granted," said Lyle.

Leading third round scores
202 - Wang Ter-chang (TPE) 66-69-67
203 - Edward Loar (USA) 71-66-66
204 - Jarrod Lyle (AUS) 67-70-67, Jason Knutzon (USA) 67-68-69
205 - Suk Jong-yul (KOR) 67-68-70, Lu Wei-lan (TPE) 66-66-73, Marcus Both (AUS) 65-68-72
206 - Lin Chie-hsiang (TPE) 69-71-66, Terry Pilkadaris (AUS) 67-68-71, Jason Dawes (AUS) 67-67-72
207 - Corey Harris (USA) 68-71-68, Kao Bo-song (TPE) 71-66-70, Zheng Wen-gen (CHN) 65-70-72

INDIAN SCORES:
210 - Harmeet Kahlon 71-67-72 (tied 18th);
211 - Arjun Singh 71-68-72 (tied 20th);
212 - Amandeep Johl 70-71-71 (tied 24th);
213 - Rahil Gangjee (70-72-71) tied 33rd;
214 - Gurbaaz Mann 73-70-71 (tied 40th);
216 - Uttam Singh Mundy 70-71-75 (tied 54th);
218 - Sandy Lehal (73-71-74) tied 61st.