Randhawa 8th, Bhullar slumps to tied 55th in Panasonic Open

Kyoto (Japan) : Jyoti Randhawa remained in the hunt for a top-five finish, carding a sedate one-under 70 to be placed tied eighth after the penultimate round of the Japan Tour's Panasonic Open here golf tournament on Saturday. The seasoned pro has a total of three-under 210 after three rounds.

The other Indian in fray, Gaganjeet Bhullar, however, had a nightmarish day, going eight-over 79 for a total of seven-over 220, which left him tied 55th.

Making a disappointing start, Randhawa stumbled to a bogey on the first hole before getting his act together to reel off three birdies and finish the front-nine two-under.

The back-nine too didn't start very well for Randhawa as he dropped a bogey on the 11th hole. The Delhi golfer parred five holes before a making birdie-bogey finish.

Bhullar, on the other hand, failed to hit a single birdie and stumbled to eight bogeys.

At the top, Daisuke Maruyama (202) opened up a three-stroke lead after carding a four-under 67. Kyung-Tae Kim (206) was the distant second after turning in a 66.