Chikkarangappa and Shubhankar enjoys the joint lead at 19-under-197.
While reigning champion Chikkarangappa recorded a determined six-under-66 at his home course Eagleton, Shubhankar of the DLF Golf & Country Club, Gurgaon, produced a fighting four-under-68 in round three.
Himmat Singh Rai, another golfer from the DLF Golf & Country Club, Gurgaon, posted a three-under-69 to end the day in third place at 16-under-200.
Chikkarangappa (65-66-66) returned a second successive 66 on day three to climb from overnight tied second to joint first.
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Chikkarangappa, who was two behind leader Shubhankar at the halfway stage, made seven birdies and a lone bogey in the third round to prepare the ground for his title defence tomorrow.
The 22-year-old Chikkarangappa, looking for his seventh title and second win of the year, set himself up for eagles from a range of 12 to 30 feet on the seventh, 10th and par-4 17th where he drove the green, courtesy some quality hitting. However, he had to settle for birdies on each occasion. Nonetheless, the five-time winner on the PGTI drained long birdie putts on the ninth and 12th.
Shubhankar (65-64-68), the overnight leader by two shots, continued to be one of the top contenders as he submitted a score of 68 today to share the lead with Chikka.
Finland's Teemu Putkonen, who made two eagles en route his 65 today, shared fifth place at 14-under-202 with Pune's Aditya Bhandarkar who shot a bogey-free 66.
Delhi golfers Rashid Khan and Naman Dawar and Americans Casey O'Toole, the ADT Order of Merit leader, and Greg Moss, the round one leader, stayed a further shot back in tied seventh position.