Varun Parikh shoots day’s best 67 to join Kartik Sharma in the lead after round three of Kapil Dev – Grant Thornton Invitational 2022 presented by DLF

 Khel Today Bureau

Gurugram: Ahmedabad’s Varun Parikh shot the day’s best score of five-under 67 to join Gurugram’s Kartik Sharma in the lead after round three of the Rs. 1 crore Kapil Dev – Grant Thornton Invitational 2022 presented by DLF. Kartik shot an even-par 72 on Thursday to be tied at the top with Varun at six-under 210 at the DLF Golf & Country Club.

Bengaluru golfer Syed Saqib Ahmed (71) was third at four-under 212 while Manu Gandas (73), another Gurugram-based professional, occupied fourth place at three-under 213.

Varun Parikh (73-70-67), the winner of the PGTI Qualifying School this year, jumped up seven spots from his overnight tied eighth position as a result of his 67 that featured six birdies and a bogey. After a slow start with a bogey on the second, the 24-year-old Parikh picked up the pace with some terrific wedge shots that led to birdies on the fourth and ninth. Varun carried forward the momentum on the back-nine rolling in some long putts on his way to birdies on the 11^th, 12^th, 14^th and 15^th.

Parikh said, “I hit it solid and kept it in play. I hit a lot of fairways and greens and just followed my gameplan. I was a little calmer today as I knew that with a four or five-under you’re always in contention at this course. I’m just going to stick to the same gameplan in the last round.”

Kartik Sharma (71-67-72), the halfway leader by two shots, slipped into the joint lead after a topsy-turvy 72 on Thursday. The 22-year-old Kartik, playing at his home course, had a superb front-nine as he sank an eagle and three birdies. He holed an eagle from the fairway with his third shot on the eighth.Sharma had a contrasting back-nine where he had some off swings that resulted in five bogeys.

Kartik said, “The more you play this course, the more you learn. I feel I have a little more advantage with this being my home course. I know the right areas to hit. But one has still got to execute those shots. It was an up and down day but I’m pleased with the way I handled myself.”

Among the prominent names, Gaganjeet Bhullar and Yuvraj Singh Sandhu were tied 26^th at five-over 221, while Jyoti Randhawa was tied 36^th at seven-over 223.

In rounds three and four, amateurs are playing alongside the professionals in a unique format. Amateur golfers have teamed up with the professionals and they are competing for separate team prizes. There will be a different set of amateurs and teams competing in rounds three and four. The amateurs will also include personalities from the corporate world as well as celebrities.