SSP Chowrasia could not tame the par-3 16th for the second day running.
Despite the double bogey on that hole, the Kolkata pro extended his lead to eight strokes at the end of the penultimate round of the NGC Open 2003, the 10th leg of the Hero Honda Indian Golf Tour 2003-04 season being played at the Noida Golf Course, on Friday.
Ashok Kumar, who was tied for the second position overnight, dropped a stroke but retained his position while his partner - Gagan Verma, who had led on the first day, shot an agonising six-over 78 to move down to tied fifth position along with eight others.
Sanjay Kumar played some steady golf to return a card of two-under par 70 for a total of three-under 216 to move up to the third position while Vivek Bhandari was fourth at level par 216.
Overnight leader Chowrasia got the right kind of start, making a birdie on the opening hole. Playing with the same calmness, the 25-year-old pro who is known for his short game showed the motley crowd his skills as he chipped-in for successive birdies on the fourth and fifth holes. With another birdie on the eighth, he was four-under after his front nine.
Missing some small birdie putts, the genial pro finally drained his fifth birdie on the 14th. Leading by 10 strokes on the 16th, he hit his tee shot on the right of the 245-yard par-3 hole and was on the 15th fairway. His chip went over the green and he three-putted for a double bogey. Hardly had he managed to recoup, he hit his opening shot of his next hole in the left jungle, just before a water hazard. Chipping out, he was in the green-side bunker and made a great up and down to save par.
"It was a good round. But for the 16th, where I could not determine the wind direction, my hitting and putting has come good," said Chowrasia who made just 23 putts today.
"I have a good chance of winning," he added, playing down his excitement.
Meanwhile, Ashok Kumar also began with a birdie on the opening hole but immediately lost a stroke on the second, missing a short par-putt. However he regained a shot on the seventh. But consecutive bogeys on the 11th and 12th put him in the back seat. He did miss some close birdie putts which could have reduced the lead.
"I was not perturbed by the four-stroke lead. I was aiming for a four-under round but could not achieve it. I still see some chance if I return a card of five-under or so," said the defending champion.
Sanjay Kumar surpassed the score of the leaders on the first hole by making an eagle. However, three bogeys and a birdie put him back to square one after his first nine.
Playing it safe, the Lucknow pro played an error-free back nine while also gaining two strokes on the 14th and 17th.
Top scores after 54 holes (Pros): 204_SSP Chowrasia (69,66,69); 212_Ashok Kumar (70,69,73); 213_Sanjay Kumar (71,72,70); 216_ Vivek Bhandari (71,70,75); 217_Vishal Singh (77,68,72), Naman Dawar (73,71,73), Shiv Prakash (73,71,73), US Mundy (73,71,73), Vinod Kumar (72,72,73), Gauav Ghei (71,72,74), Dinesh Kumar (70,73,74), Sandeep Syal (71,69,77), Gagan Verma (amateur) (67,72,78).
Other top amateurs: 223_Simarjeet Singh (76,75,72), 226_Chirag Kumar (73,78,75).
