Young Indian duo set for Ericsson Masters match

By Bobby Allen Wilson

BINTAN, Riau (JP): The young Indian duo of Arjun Atwal and Jeev Milkan Singh set up their final day pairing for the Asia Pacific Ericsson Masters after finishing the third round on top of the leaderboard.

Atwal carded a 5-under-par 67 yesterday to lead the tournament on 14-under 202 by one stroke from Singh who returned with a 4- under 68.

Australian Darren Cole fired a four-under-par 68 to lie in third place with a 12-under-par 204 for the tournament and will be the third member of the final group today.

"It's going to be fun," Atwal said. "We're very good friends and have played together many times before. We'll be able to go out there and just play golf and enjoy it."

Atwal and Singh had started the day a stroke behind Nico Van Rensburg and at the turn were still trailing the big hitting South African who led the tournament on 15-under par.

Van Rensburg plundered the front nine in five-under-par 31. He made a birdie on the par-four ninth hole after enduring a one-and-a-half-hour rain delay before playing his second shot from the fairway.

After having appeared to have weathered the storm Van Rensburg then ran up a disastrous triple-bogey seven on the 10th after losing his tee shot into the thick rough on the left side.

The South African struggled home in four-over-par 40 finishing with a one-under-par 71 and lies in joint fourth place with compatriot Wayne Bradley, who shot a best of the day seven-under- par 65.

Atwal, playing in the group ahead of Van Rensburg and Singh, covered the front nine in two-under-par 34. The 24-year-old then charged into the lead with birdies on 11, 13 and 16.

"I played really well from tee to green. I didn't miss a fairway all day. I don't think I have ever hit the ball better," Atwal said.

Contention

Singh fought back into contention after a double-bogey on the par-five fifth.

"I birdied the first hole and really felt I was getting into my stride before messing up on number five," said Singh, who recovered by birdieing six, eight and nine.

While Van Rosenburg opted to wait for the rain to stop before playing his second on the ninth, Singh finished out the hole before heading for the clubhouse.

"That was a great comeback round. I kept my composure very well and kept battling all the way," said the 25-year-old Singh, who made two more birdies on the back nine.

"I have known Arjun since 1995. I think we first met at the first ever event on the Omega Tour and The International in Thailand in mid-1995," Singh said.

"We hadn't met before that as when I was playing golf in India. Arjun was at high school in the United States. Since 1995, however, we have been on the road together and often been roommates."

Singh and Atwal have played in the final pairing on the final day once before. On that occasion, in the 1995 Philippine Classic, Singh was the victor.

Selected results: 202 - Arjun Atwal (Ind) 65 70 67 203 - Jeeve Mikh Sing (Ind) 66 69 68 204 - Darren Cole (Aus) 72 64 68 205 - Wayne Bradley (Rsa), 71 69 65, Nico Van Rensburg 68 66 71 206 - Brett Partridge (Aus) 71 68 67 207 - Craig Kamps (Rsa) 71 67 69 208 - Doug Dunakey (USA) 68 71 69 209 - Scott Laylock (Aus) 72 70 67, Ted Purdy (USA) 74 68 67 Gavin Coles (Aus) 72 69 68 210 - David Bransdon (Aus) 71 71 68, Robin Byrd (USA) 69 71 70, Nam Young-woo (Kor) 71 69 70, John Senden (Aus) 70 67 73 211 - Shane Tait (Aus) 71 71 69, Paul Davenport (Nzl) 71 71 69, Mike Cunning (USA) 70 71 70, Michael Long (Nzl) 73 71 67, Charlie Wi (Kor) 71 70 70, Des Terblanche (Rsa) 73 68 70, 212 - David McKnzie (Aus) 71 73 68, Chris Gray (Aus) 70 74 68, Jim Rutledge (Can) 71 72 69, Edward Fryatt (Gbr) 70 72 69, Lucas Parsons (Aus) 74 68 70, John Wade (Aus) 74 67 71, Grant Kenny (Aus) 73 68 71