Sanju holds one-shot lead after third round in AP Amateur Golf

Sanju carded a three-under 68 despite a double bogey on the 18th hole to maintain a one-shot lead in the IGU Andhra Pradesh Amateur Golf Championship. Deepak Yadav stayed close, while Sukhman Singh dropped to third after a 72

VISAKHAPATNAM: Despite a setback on the closing hole, Chandigarh’s Sanju still enjoyed a one-shot cushion on the penultimate day of the IGU Andhra Pradesh Amateur Golf Championship at the East Point Golf Club here on Thursday.

Five-under with one hole to play, the lanky golfer found water with his second shot and walked off with an unfortunate double bogey six for a card of three-under 68 on the third day. Sanju’s three-day cumulative total stood at 11-under 202.

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His fellow Railways golfer, Deepak Yadav, shot a second straight 68 to stay a shot behind on 10-under 203. Overnight leader Sukhman Singh failed to get going on another brilliant day for golf, returning a one-over 72 to slip to third, two shots further back.

Sanju, still searching for his maiden amateur victory, picked up a shot on the fourth with a 10-foot birdie putt. A duffed chip on the sixth saw him drop a shot. However, the 24-year-old put that blemish behind him and produced an eagle three on the par-5 seventh. He reached the green in two, set up by a brilliant 8-iron second shot from 175 yards, and holed a five-footer.

Sanju added further birdies on the eighth, 10th and 11th, where he rolled in a 20-foot putt to move to five-under for the day. Unfortunately, his lead shrunk by two shots following the debacle on the 18th hole.

Playing in the same leader group, Deepak seemed to match his rival in shot-making. He sank five birdies, including a 20-foot right-to-left putt on the fifth, the pick of the lot. But a poor shot on the 14th spoilt his card. He found the right trees with his pitching wedge second shot and left the third shot short of the greenside bunker. He chipped onto the green and two-putted for a double bogey.

Leading scores (after 54 holes):
202: Sanju (70, 64, 68)
203: Deepak Yadav (67, 68, 68)
205: Sukhman Singh (68, 65, 72)
208: Harman Sachdeva (69, 71, 68), Sumit Kotwal (70, 68, 70)
209: Ishaan Chawhan (70, 71, 68)
210: Ranveer Mitroo (66, 73, 71), Ram Singh Mann (70, 68, 72)