Kuala Lumpur, April 19 (IANS) India’s Anirban Lahiri picked up some valuable lessons en route to the day’s joint lowest score following a superb six-under-par 66 at the Maybank Malaysian Open Saturday.
After opening with two uneventful 72s at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, the EurAsia Cup star burst into life with six birdies for a bogey-free card which propelled him to joint 14th place after the third round of the $2.75 million event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.
Lahiri, who finished third on the Asian Tour Order of Merit last season and earned two points in Asia’s memorable draw with Europe in the inaugural EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM in Malaysia last month, was delighted to make his big move on a sweltering day in the Malaysian capital.
“I’m happy, really happy with how I played. I’ve been playing well the last two days, just wasn’t making putts. I came out and just putted much better. I’ve been working on it and it’s nice to have that improved.
“I was probably trying a bit too hard the last two rounds and just relaxed a little bit playing with Rashid Khan and Pariya Junhasavasdikul. It was a great day,” said the 26-year-old, who is eight shots behind leader Lee Westwood of England.
The three-time winner on the Asian Tour hit 16 greens in regulation and got the putter hot as putts that were burning the edges in the last two days, started to find the middle of the cups in his third round.
Countryman Rahil Gangjee shot a 70 for tied 23rd position on 212 alongside S.S.P. Chowrasia who battled to a 71. Shiv Kapur is a further two shots back in equal 35th place after a 69.