Sunday 20 March 2016 16:42, UK
SSP Chawrasia made the most of Terry Pilkadaris' struggles to claim a two-stroke lead after three rounds of the Hero Indian Open.
The Australian led by three at the halfway stage but suffered on his front nine on Saturday, while home favourite Chawrasia was making hay at Delhi Golf Club.
Pilkadaris opened with a birdie, and had another at the fourth, but he sandwiched that with two bogeys and finished off the front nine by dropping another stroke.
By then he had already lost the lead to Chawrasia, who also made his first birdie of the day at the long opening hole.
The 37-year-old, twice a winner on the European Tour and runner-up in this event 12 months ago, made his move on the sixth where he kicked off a run of three successive birdies to move two clear.
Remarkably Chawrasia and Pilkadaris, who were playing together in the final group, made nine pars apiece on the back nine, leaving Chawrasia (-14) with that same advantage heading into Sunday's final 18 holes.
"Going into the final round, I will follow the same process that I have been for the last three days," he said.
"Honestly, the Hero Indian Open is a very important tournament for me and I want to win it because I have finished second over here four times. My next goal is to play in the Olympics, so if I manage to win here I will make the team."
Defending champion Anirban Lahiri, who beat Chawrasia in a play-off to win the 2015 title, moved into contention for a repeat victory thanks to a fine five-under round of 67.
Lahiri started the day eight shots off the pace, but made birdies at the first, second, seventh and eighth, and picked up a further stroke at the 16th as he completed a bogey-free round.
He was joined on 10 under by compatriot Rashid Khan, while another Indian player, Rahil Gangjee, also made a big move with a round of 66 to move to nine under, just about in touch for a Sunday charge.
Gangjee had eight birdies and two bogeys in his round, joint best of the day along with Jeunghun Wang of Korea, who is also well placed on nine under along with Frenchman Sebastien Gros and Adilson da Silva of Brazil.
But it was a dreadful Saturday for Spain's Nacho Elvira, who started the round in a tie for second with Chawrasia and ended it tied for 34th, 11 shots off the pace.
Incredibly, Elvira started his round with an eagle to move within a shot of then leader Pilkadaris, but his final 17 holes included two birdies, five bogeys and three double bogeys - all adding up to a seven-over 79.
David Lipsky and Ben Evans were also bang in contention at halfway but went backwards in the third round, Lipsky carding 75 and Evans matching Elvira's round of 79 to drop to one under, a tie for 45th.
