Chowrasia sets the pace at Indian Masters, Jacquelin takes charge

NEW DELHI, February 9: In the penultimate round of the $2.5 million Indian Masters at the Delhi Golf Course on Saturday, Raphael Jacquelin of France became the new front runner as he carded an even par 72 to be on top of the leaderboard at 6-under 210.
"It's always good to be on top of the leaderboard, and of course I'm happy to be there. I'm just a little bit disappointed with the way I putted today.I didn't hole, except for one on 14, to make a good eagle. But the rest was really poor on the greens. So that's why I'm a little bit disappointed but pleased to be up there," said a pleased Jacquelin.
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Day two leader Damien McGrane from Ireland was a shot behind Jacquelin and had to be satisfied with a tied second finish with Jose Manual Lara of Spain and Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland after round three.
The Irishman carded a 3-over par 75, putting his total to 5-under on the leaderboard.
Chowrasia's day out
The men who kept the hopes alive for home fans were SSP Chowrasia and Arjun Atwal. Well, Chowrasia put up a splendid show in the penultimate round as he finished at 71 for a total of 4-under 212.
"Tough conditions but one-under is a good score. The conditions were pretty tough and very windy so that's why I am quite happy with my score despite the last hole," said a delighted Chowrasia.
The 29-year-old played a flawless front nine and shot five birdies in all. He frittered away his chances of making a birdie on the 18th and finally ended up with a bogey.
"I started off well with a birdie on the first and the third and I turned at two-under, and I spoiled only two holes, the 10th which was a double-bogey and I 3-putted the last hole, 18, but overall I was quite happy," said Chowrasia.
Arjun Atwal, the first Indian golfer to win on the European Tour schedule - the 2002 Singapore Masters, accompanied compatriot Chowrasia at tied fifth with a round three 72.
"I played decent. I just made a lot of mistakes out there and I made a double on 7 which really hurt me a lot I don't need to make any doubles on a golf course like this. I'm not going to hit it in the bush," said Atwal.
"So apart from that, I hit it good. It was just really tough conditions again," he added.
'Big Easy' tries to make it easy
Keeping in mind to make a respectable finish in the tournament, world number four Ernie Els, nicknamed 'Big Easy', carded his best score so far. He finished at 69 on day three, putting up a decent total of 2-under 214. Els birdied six holes in all and bogeyed three.
In round two, the South African fared much better on the par-5 18th that shocked him on day one, shooting a birdie to finish at 70.
The 38-year-old, although struggling a little bit on the greens, felt the course is in wonderful shape at this time of the year.
"Well, I am playing quite consistently but struggling a little bit on the greens, I am having a tough time reading the putts. I am not saying that they are bad, I am just struggling to read them right. But the course is in wonderful shape for this time of year which is your winter time and I think they have done a great job with that," said Els.
"It is a wonderful layout and if you miss any shot you are going to pay the penalty," he added.
At the end of round three, Els is tied 10th with five others; two Indian contenders - Gaurav Ghei and Digvijay Singh, Thomas Bjorn of Denmark, Scotland's Ross Bain and Benn Barham of England.
Lost the plot
In the Indian field, India's top golfer continued his dismal run as he slipped further after round three. Jyoti Randhawa, tied 23rd with four others, shot a 3-over 75 putting his total to 1-over.
Local favourite, Shiv Kapur's performance went from bad to worse, as he closed his third round on a disastrous 4-over 76. Kapur, tied 55th with two others after round three, bogeyed seven holes in all, aggregating his total to 6-over on the leaderboard.
It was definitely a mixed day for the Indian star cast. With Randhawa and Kapur slumping, India can pin hopes on Atwal and Chowrasia to win the tourney and create history as they go into the final round of the first ever European Tour event in India.