Home favourite SSP Chawrasia was closing in on halfway leader Terry Pilkadaris as the third round of the Hero Indian Open began at Delhi Golf Club.
A blistering second-round 64 had given Australia’s Pilkadaris a three-shot cushion heading into the weekend, but the 42 year old – chasing a maiden European Tour victory – missed clutch putts for par on the second and third after birdying the par five opener.
That saw him drop to 12 under for the week, with course specialist Chawrasia cranking up the pressure.
The Indian, who won the 2008 EMAAR-MGF Indian Masters over this layout, holed a ten footer at the first to advance to a 11 under and only one back.
Korean youngster Jeunghang Wang had reeled off seven unanswered birdies in his first 13 holes to storm into third place on ten under, with Anirban Lahiri and Nacho Elvira a shot further back in a tie for fourth.
Pilkadaris regained a shot at the fourth to get back to level par for the day and 13 under for the week, but Chawrasia converted after an excellent approach to the sixth and then drained a 20 footer on the seventh to draw level.
Wang’s brilliant run ended with a bogey on the 15th, allowing Spain’s Nacho Elvira to grab third on ten under after an eventful start which included an eagle, a double bogey, a birdie and another dropped shot over his first eight holes.
