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Shubhankar, Atwal tied-25th
PTI
Last Updated IST

Shubhankar Sharma and Arjun Atwal emerged as the best Indians after carding matching four-under 68s to be tied-25th after the third round of the Volvo China Open here on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Gaganjeet Bhullar, who at one stage rose to tied-2nd after being four-under through eight holes, courted disaster on the back nine with one triple and one double and fell to even-par despite seven birdies. Bhullar is now tied-49th. Khalin Joshi (73) was tied-64th while Shiv Kapur (76) was tied-68th.

Overnight leader Matt Wallace of England battled to a three-under-par 69 to remain atop the leaderboard, sharing the honours with Adrian Otaegui of Spain, who caught up with him with a birdie blitz, following a low-scoring day.

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Shubhankar, winner of two European Tour titles this season, had five birdies and an eagle on par-4 tenth hole. But he also gave away three bogeys for a 68.

Atwal, more than twice Shubhankar's age, had a nice hat-trick of birdies on the front nine from seventh to ninth and he had six birdies in all against two bogeys.

The 28-year-old Wallace, who won the Hero Indian Open last month, held an overnight one-shot lead. On Saturday he nailed four birdies against a bogey for a three-day total of 12-under-par 204 at the Topwin Golf and Country Club.

Otaegui matched his efforts after sinking five straight birdies starting from the eighth hole for a flawless 67.

Gangjee rises

Nagoya (Japan), Apr 28 (PTI) Rahil Gangjee shot one-under 69 to move up to tied 42nd place after 54 holes in Japan Golf Tour's Crowns in Nagoya on Saturday.

Gangjee, winner of his first Japan Tour event last week, was one-over 211 for three days.

The leader is Shota Akiyoshi (66), who has never won before on Japan tour. Akiyoshi was 11-under 199 and two shots ahead of YE Yang (67), a former PGA Championships winner and the first Asian to win a Major.

Yang, who has not won a title since 2010, was 9-under 201. He is now ranked 925th in the world.

Australian Brendan Jones was three shots behind the leader with one round to play.

Jones carded a round of 69 to remain within striking distance of his 15th Japan Golf Tour title.

Jones is tied third along with four others -- Kunihiro Kamii (65), Prayad Marksaeng (66), Yusaku Miyazoto (66) and Shugo Imahira (71).

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(Published 28 April 2018, 19:54 IST)