Jakarta, Indonesia, 14-07-2018

Udayan Mane holds on to tied fourth place with a 69 in round three in Indonesia, on course for best Asian Tour finish

Udayan Mane (67-68-69) fired a third round score of three-under-69 to hold on to his overnight tied fourth place at the Asian Tour's Bank BRI Indonesia Open.

Mane's total of 12-under-204 placed him five shots behind the third round leader Justin Harding of South Africa.

Udayan, who was even-par with two birdies and two bogeys on the front-nine, made a charge on the back-nine with three birdies.

Mane, who is also playing on an invite this week, is in serious contention for the first time on the Asian Tour. He is also in line to improve upon his previous best on the Asian Tour which was tied 10th at the 2017 Bashundhara Bangladesh Open.

Mane said, "I wasn’t too satisfied with my putting today. There were two or three putts within four feet but they just didn’t go in. I hit the putts well but they were on the firm side, which ended with a similar length coming back!

"All in all, I held my nerve. I was nervous in the beginning as it was the first time I’m in this position on this Tour. I was playing with legends like Chapchai Nirat, who gave me a short game exhibition. It was a great learning experience for me. Otherwise, I’m just happy to be in striking distance.

"I just breathe (to overcome my nervousness). I focused on my breathing, which helps. For tomorrow, I’ll just do what I do and not let anything escape me."

Gaganjeet Bhullar (69-67-69), who was overnight tied eighth, closed the penultimate day in eighth place at 11-under-205 after a round of 69.

Like Mane, Bhullar too was even-par through the front-nine and then followed that up with a three-under on the back-nine.

Bhullar said, "I got penalised one shot today and that was one shot given to the field. Other than that, it was a roller coaster round. I made lots of birdies and bogeys. I made par on the first three holes and the next par I made was on hole 11. I could have done better, as I felt that I was struggling on the golf course. Somehow, I made some birdies and turned it back.

"My putting was slightly better today. (About the penalty incurred at hole four), it is the rule. It is what it is. There’s nothing you can do at the time and just concentrate on playing the rest of the round."

Khalin Joshi (67-68-71) was the third Indian inside the top-10. He returned a 71 to slip from overnight tied fourth to tied ninth at 10-under-206.

Jyoti Randhawa was tied 23rd at six-under-210, Honey Baisoya was tied 57th at one-under-215, Shiv Kapur and Himmat Rai were tied 65th at one-over-217 and Chiragh Kumar was 73rd at three-over-219.