Jeev lies three behind leader in Malaysia

Jeev Milkha Singh gave himself an outside chance to make a bid for the Maybank Malaysian Open with a fine run of five-under through 11 holes in the third round of the tournament that has now been reduced to 54 holes.

Six-time winner on Asian tour and Four-time winner on European Tour, Jeev charged from three-under through two rounds to eight under after just 11 holes in the third round.

He was lying tied 10th but only three shots behind the leader, Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who was 11-under through two holes in the third round.

Shiv Kapur, the only other Indian to make the cut when the second round was completed on Saturday, shot 71 in second round to make the cut and was then even par through seven holes in the third to get to one-under for 43 holes and tied 42nd.

Charl Schwartzel, the 2011 Masters winner, was at 10-under after two holes in the third round, while there seven players including Padraig Harrington and Wu Ashun at nine-under.

Jeev had a superb front nine with five birdies against no bogeys. He parred the 10th and 11th, when play was called off on Saturday.

“With such a crowded leaderboard, anything can happen. I am making birdies, lots of them, but also dropping bogeys. This week I have already had 12 birdies two and a half rounds, but I have also dropped four shots. It was the same last week at Avantha Masters,” said Jeev.

Gaganjeet Bhullar (72-73), Jyoti Randhawa (71-74), Daniel Chopra (74-71), SSP Chowrasia (77-72) and Himmat Rai (76-81) had finished the second round on Friday and failed to make the cut. Digvijay (72-76), Anirban Lahiri (74-74) came back this morning to complete the second round, but were unable to make the cut.

Earlier, World No 3 Luke Donald missed the cut for the first time in a regular European Tour event since he turned professional - his three over par total for 36 holes missing the mark by three shots.

Organisers were forced to cut short the $2.75 million championship, sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour, after thunderstorms disrupted play for the third successive day. The third and final round will resume on Sunday, 9.45am at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club. The last time the Maybank Malaysian Open was reduced into a three-round affair was at the same venue in 2006.

Half the field had been forced to finish their second round in the morning after long delays on the first two days, including Irishman Padraig Harrington, who completed a four under par 68 before moving to nine under after four holes of round three.