NCR Cup: Bandara holds three shot lead on Day 3

New Delhi - Overnight leader Sri Lanka’s Vijitha Bandara shot one-over 73 to hold the lead on Day 3 of the eighth NCR Cup here at the Delhi Golf Club on Thursday.

Bandara’s three days’ total was 217 and he was three shots behind India’s Samarth Dwivedi after firing a two-under 70 for a total of 220 along with another countryman Prince Kajotia, who finished third.

India’s Amit Kumar, who was tied on second position on Wednesday, came back with the score of four-over 76 for the total of 224 to slip to fourth. India’s Pratap Atwal, whose best score on this course is seven-under, returned with two-under 70 for the total of 225 in a tie along with Dhruv Sheoran who shot four-over 76 for the total of 225.

Currently No.1 on the Sri Lanka amateur circuit, Bandara started the day with a bogey on the first hole which led to lapse in concentration but he did some breathing exercise on the second tee box to hit back to back birdies on second, third and fifth. He was level par after front nine but bogeys on 11th and 17th and a birdie finish got him one-over in total.

Not too impressed with putting, Bandara said, “I could have been three or four under today if I would not have missed short putts on first, eighth, 11th and 14th. I was also confused at some of the holes as my mind was saying something and my caddy was saying something else. I closed my eyes on the 18th green and counted from 20 to one to balance my mind but still I missed the eagle by six inches.”

Forty-three players will be vying for the title Friday as two Pakistani players Sardar Murad and Amir Mehmood and India’s K.K. Bajoria withdrew.