Randhawa slips to third in Singapore

Jyoti Randhawa managed to stay in contention for the title despite returning an ordinary even par 72 in the third round of the Singapore Masters Golf tournament in Singapore on Saturday.

The 34-year-old Delhi pro made two bogies on the back-nine to lose his one-stroke lead overnight to be in sole third position with an overall 11-under at the Laguna National Golf Club.

China's Liang Weng-chong and England's Gary Lockerbie shared the top spot, one stroke ahead of the Indian.

Liang carded a 68 and Lockerbie a 69 to tie for the lead at 12-under 204.

Despite losing the lead, Randhawa was upbeat about his round and his chances tomorrow.

"Like I said the other day, I am not playing all that great, but I am managing to keep myself together and that is sort of what I did," said Randhawa, who won the 2000 Singapore Open.

"Coming in, I dropped a few shots which I shouldn't have done, but I am pleased to just be one shot off the lead and still having a chance going into tomorrow."

Malaysian Iain Steele led for most part of the day after a hot start saw him make four birdies in the first four holes, but a disastrous back nine meant he could only manage a one-under 71 and was tied for the fourth place along side Ireland's Peter Lawrie at 206.

Two prolific winners in Asia, Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee and England's Simon Dyson, were also in the mix, tied for the sixth place at 207 and just three stroke off the leaders.

Among the other Indian golfers in the fray, Asia number one Jeev Milkha Singh improved to tied 32nd place with a two-under 70, but Gaurav Ghei and Rahil Gangjee slipped to tied 58th and 67th place with identical five-over 77.