Chandigarh’s Karandeep leads in Bengaluru Open Golf
December 21, 2019, Bangalore, Chandigarh
Local professional golfer Karandeep Kochhar moved into pole position with a 2-shot lead at 11-under 205 after the third round of the Bengaluru Open Golf Championship at the Karnatak Golf Association course.
The 20-year-old Kochhar, who was one shot off the lead in tied-fourth at the halfway stage, produced a 3-under 69 to emerge as the prime contender for the title.
Bengaluru’s Rahil Gangjee (71) and Faridabad-based Abhinav Lohan (70) were in tied-second place at 9-under 207. Kochhar (67-69-69), still looking for his first title after turning professional, began well with long birdie conversions on the second and fifth despite being in trouble with his tee shots on both holes. An error in club selection on the sixth saw him find the water and drop his first bogey of the day.
Kochhar, the youngest ever player to win on the PGTI at age 17 years and five months while still an amateur, then landed it close to pick up two more birdies on the eighth and 12th. However, those two birdies were negated by two bogeys on the 13th and 15th, the former coming as a result of a three-putt. He managed to end the round on a high with two long birdie putts on the 16th and 18th on the most windy day of the tournament.
