A stunning front nine saw course specialist SSP Chawrasia turn a three-shot deficit into a two-shot lead during the third round of the Hero Indian Open at Delhi Golf Club.
Home favourite Chawrasia, who won the 2008 Indian Masters over the same 6,983-yard tree-lined layout, carded four birdies in an outward 32 to reach 14 under par.
That was enough to reel in halfway leader Terry Pilkadaris, as the Australian turned in a one over par 37.
A blistering second-round 64 had given 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 and, despite birdies on the first and fourth, turned over par after for the day after a wayward drive into trees down the ninth forced him to chip out sideways and led to another dropped shot.
Chawrasia holed a ten footer at the first, then reeled off a hat-trick of gains from the sixth, a run sparked by an excellent approach to eight feet and featuring a 20 foot putt on the seventh.
At 14 under he led by two from Pilkadaris, who was three shots clear of the group tied for third on nine under.
Clubhouse leaders Rahil Gangjee and Jeunghun Wang had both reached that mark with rounds of 66, and had been joined by Anirban Lahiri, Adilson da Silva, Rashid Khan and Alejandro Cañizares, all of whom were still on the course.
