Koh Samui (Thailand): Rashid Khan kept the Indian hopes alive even as SSP Chawrasia suffered a slight setback after the end of the third round of the Queen’s Cup golf tournament here Saturday.
Rashid, a two-time winner on Asian Tour, trying to find his way back to the winner’s circle, shot one-under 70, and at eight-under was tied eighth, down from overnight tied third.
Also sliding down was Chawrasia whose one-over 72 saw him at tied 12th. He was also tied-3 overnight.
Malaysia’s Nicholas Fung birdied two of his last three holes to take a one-shot lead over former Asian Tour No. 1s Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand and Filipino Juvic Pagunsan at the $5,00,000 event.
Of the other Indians – Rahil Gangjee (70) moved seven places up to tied 20th and Sujjan Singh (69) made a handy jump from overnight tied 52 to tied 27th. Chiragh Kumar (68) also moved up nicely from tied 60 to tied 35.
Rashid had three birdies between sixth and 11th but also two bogeys on first and 17th. “I started bad with a three putt bogey on the first hole. I came back okay as I made birdies on six, nine and 11. I was going well then but unfortunately I couldn’t find greens on the back nine. However, it was the bogey on the 17th hole that cost me badly,” Rashid said at the end of the day’s play. “Hopefully I can recover lost ground, Sunday.”
Fung, 27, patiently carved out a three-under-par 68 at a tricky Santiburi Samui Country Club to give himself a shot at earning a maiden Asian Tour victory with his three-day aggregate of 11-under-par 202.
