Ajeetesh Sandhu trails leader Nitithorn Thippong by two shots at DGC Open

Sandhu braved the conditions on a tough third day to card one-over 73 to lie two shots adrift of leader Nitithorn Thippong of Thailand at the DGC Open on Saturday. Sandhu continued to remain in second place with a three-day total of six-under 210. Among other Indians, Gaganjeet Bhullar (73), M Dharma (73) and Veer Ahlawat (78) also hang in there to be part of chasing pack at the revered Delhi Golf Club.

While Settee Prakongvech (70), another Thai golfer, was placed third at five-under 211, Bhullar was placed fourth at four-under 212, and the duo of M Dharma (73) and Veer Ahlawat (78) was placed tied fifth at three-under 213. The wind played havoc in round three as just 11 players registered sub-par rounds. The lowest score of the day was three-under 69 fired by India's Sachin Baisoya, Filipino Justin Quiban (both tied eighth at one-under 215), India's SSP Chawrasia (tied 16th at one-over 217) and Singapore's Jesse Yap (tied 21st at two-over 218).

The 33-year-old Sandhu (69-68-73), a winner on the Asian Tour in 2017, conceded bogeys on the third and fourth but managed to pull one shot back with a birdie on the par-5 eighth. Fighting the tough conditions, Sandhu dropped two more bogeys on the back-nine but also sank a 15-feet eagle putt on the 14th much to the delight of the local crowd. "A difficult day.

The wind was off, the course was firm. It was a very good test out there today. Need to do some practice to get ready for tomorrow and hopefully it is a better day tomorrow," Sandhu said.

"I hung in there today, and didn't really have my best day. Off the tee, with the irons, and with the putter, everything was kind of average. But I'm glad I'm still up there and I'll have a shot to win tomorrow, so that means a lot."