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Hero Indian Open: SSP Chawrasia two shots clear in Delhi

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Highlights from the thrid round of the Indian Open

Home hope SSP Chawrasia will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Hero Indian Open at Delhi Golf Club.

Chawrasia doubled his advantage over fellow course specialist Siddikur Rahman thanks to a 69 on Saturday to reach 12 under and remains on course for his third European Tour victory on home soil.

Third Round Leaderboard

SSP Chawrasia (Ind) -12
S Rahman (Ind) -10
M Fraser (Aus) -7
D Chopra (Swe) -6
P Marksaeng (Tha) -6
P Peterson (USA) -5
A Lahiri (Ind) -5

The 36-year-old had been four shots clear after birdies on the first, second and 13th, and a double bogey on the 15th from playing partner Rahman, but dropped his first shot of the week on the 17th and saw Rahman birdie the last.

Australian Marcus Fraser stood five shots off the lead after a 67, with Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng and Sweden's Daniel Chopra another shot back, Chopra holing from off the green on the 18th for a closing eagle in a flawless 65.

Feeling great

Chawrasia, who has finished runner-up in his national open three times, said: "I feel great. I missed a few putts but I'm still happy. I missed my eight iron on the 17th hole or else I would have still been bogey free.

I want to think and play positive on the final day. The final round is always special so I will play aggressively.
SSP Chawrasia

"I want to think and play positive on the final day. The final round is always special so I will play aggressively. I played my own game and was not thinking that I'm playing match play (against Rahman). If anyone is coming closer, let them. I just want to focus on my own game."

Rahman, who has only failed to finish in the top 10 once in 11 appearances at Delhi Golf Club, matched Chawrasia's birdie at the first and followed that with 11 pars before picking up another shot on the 13th.

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Live European Tour Golf

His only blemish came on the 15th when he found a bunker with his approach and compounded the error by three-putting from long range.

"It was a good day," Rahman said. "I had a nice rhythm and picked up a couple of shots until the double bogey. But I managed to recover well and made a great par save on 17 and then managed to birdie the last so overall I am happy with one under today.

"The birdie at the last was very important. Anything can happen in this game - I am looking forward to tomorrow and hopefully I can play the way I did on Thursday. I tried not to look too much at what SSP was doing today. I tried to focus on my own game and keep hitting the greens in regulation and try to make some birdie putts."

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