Ghei slides, Muniyappa climbs up

Petaling Jaya (Malaysia):

Gaurav Ghei slid to tied 13th after a one-over 73 even as C Muniyappa leapt to the tied 20th spot after turning in the day's best card of five-under 66 in the third round of the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters golf tournament here on Friday.

Muniyappa, tied 60th overnight, broke par for the first time, striking two eagles and four birdies against three bogeys to total two-under 211.

Ghei, meanwhile, was a stroke ahead of Muniyappa at three-under 210.

A 10th tee starter, Muniyappa opened with a birdie on the 10th, picked up another on the 13th before striking an eagle on the 15th. Another birdie followed on the 16th as Muniyappa completed a flawless back-nine to be five-under at the turn.

The front-nine was not as good and Muniyappa dropped three strokes. But a birdie and his second eagle of the round sandwiched in between ensured that Muniyappa ended the day on a high.

Among other Indians, Anirban Lahiri (72) and Rahil Gangjee (73) were a couple of shots behind Muniyappa at the tied 27th spot.

Further down, Digvijay Singh (75) was tied 43rd with a total of two-over 215. The nightmare continued for Gagajeet Bhullar (74) as he slid to the tied 64th spot with a total of six-over 219.

At the top, Asian Tour rookie Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand opened up a two-shot lead after the third round at the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters to give himself a chance of a maiden title.

The former world junior amateur champion broke clear from the chasing pack following a two-under 69 at the Seri Selangor Golf Club for a three-day total of nine-under 204.