Marksaeng, Kumar share the lead

Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng, despite a double bogey at the last, moved into a share of the third-round lead with India's Vijay Kumar in the US$-300,000 Hero Honda Indian Masters, being played at the DLF Golf & Country Club course, on Saturday

Marksaeng, who eagled the 15th after holing a wedge from 75 yards, fired a one-over-par 72 to finish the day at seven-under 206.

Kumar, who dropped a shot at the 18th, carded a level-par 71 as the pair lead the rest of the field by one stroke going into Sunday's final round.

Lying joint-third on 207 were India's Harmeet Kahlon, after 70, and South Africa's Craig Kamps, who shot a three-under-par 68.

Overnight leader Jeev Milkha Singh of India suffered a miserable day with his driver and slipped to joint-fifth at four-under 208 after carding a 76.

Jeev, a regular on the European tour, had fired a six-under-par 65 on Friday to lead the tournament by a shot at the halfway stage.

"The pin positions made it tough today," Marksaeng said.

"I put the ball on the green, which helped a great deal and, on the first nine, I made all the greens in regulation."

The Thai professional dropped his first shot of the day on the 13th where he drove his ball into bushes off the tee and had to lay-up with a seven-iron for his second shot.

FINDING WATER

At the par-four 18th, Marksaeng hit his approach shot into the water. Reaching the green in four, he then two-putted from 15 feet for a double-bogey six.

Kumar, who won the Indian tour's order of merit three years in a row between 1998 and 2000, offset two birdies with two bogeys for his third-round 71.

"There will be no pressure on me tomorrow," he said. "How things go over the first two or three holes will dictate my playing style."

Jeev, son of former Olympic 400 metre runner Milkha Singh, surrendered his overnight lead with dropped shots at the first two holes.

He three-putted for another bogey on the 12th but bounced back with an excellent approach on the 13th to set up his only birdie of the day.

"I had a really bad start, just nothing happened," Jeev said.

"But three shots is within reach, tomorrow will be different."

Also in joint-fifth place were Gaurav Ghei, who made history in 1997 by becoming the first Indian to qualify for the British Open, and Swede Daniel Chopra, after a 70.

Earlier report
Brilliant Jeev shoots into the lead
Arjun Atwal begins in style
Indian supremacy under threat at Hero Honda Masters