Anirban Lahiri followed up his blistering 62 with an equally impressive eight-under-64 in round three to build a five-stroke lead at the PGTI Eagleburg Open here today.
The local favourite's total score now reads 17-under-199. Lucknow's Sanjay Kumar held on to second place with a 68 in round three which moved his overall score to 12-under-204.
Lahiri (73-62-64) had a terrific start to the day as he landed his approach shots from a distance of about 100 yards to within a couple of feet on both the first and second holes to collect two birdies at the Eagleton Golf Resort.
Lahiri, the overnight leader by one shot, made pars on the next seven holes even as Kumar drew level with him at the turn.
Lahiri started to pull away from Kumar thanks to a well-timed 15-feet eagle conversion from the back fringe of the green on the 10th.
Lahiri then had an outstanding run of six birdies against two bogeys on the last eight holes that helped him consolidate his lead. He landed his approach within five feet for birdie on the 11th and found the par-5 15th green in two shots to set up another birdie.
The 26-year-old sank birdie putts from a range of 15 to 20 feet on the 13th, 14th and 17th holes.
