The Indian challenge faded on the third day of $-900,000 Caltex Singapore Masters, presented by Carlsberg, when all four players in contention returned over-par cards on the penultimate day in the European and Asian PGA Tour joint sanctioned event, on Saturday.

According to news from the Masters course of Laguna National, defending champion Arjun Atwal shot a four-over 76, while Jeev Milkha Singh returned a dismal eight-over 80 to fall way back.

Atwal was tied for the 15th place at three-under 213, while Jeev was tied for 39th place at one-over 217. Both were tied for second place at seven-under at the start of the day.

Jyoti Randhawa also had a bad day and was in same spot as Jeev after a round of six-over 78.

Amandeep Johl was tied 61st at four-over 220.

Star attraction and world No 2 Ernie Els continued to lead the tournament. The big South African shot a two-under 70 for a three-day tally of 10-under 206.

China's Zhang Lian-wei came in with a 69 today and was second two strokes behind Els.

Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng and Scotland's Simon Yates were tied for the third place at seven-under 209. Prayad shot 69 while Yates carded 72.

Atwal made two double bogeys -- on the difficult ninth and 17th holes, while Jeev dropped two shots each on the 15th and 17th holes. In fact, Jeev dropped eight shots in his last 10 holes. Jyoti's heartbreak at the ninth and tenth holes continued, and the newly crowned Asia No 1 made a triple bogey and a double there. Jyoti has lost nine strokes in the two holes in last three days.

In-form Els was in cruise control for most of the round and led by five with a couple of holes to play. Surprisingly the three-time Major winner bogeyed the last two holes giving him less of a cushion going into tomorrow's final round. He pulled his five-iron tee shot left of the green on the par-three 17th and did not get up and down, and misclubbed his approach on the last, where he missed a five footer for par.

"I didn't have the finish I wanted to, missing that putt on the 18th, and misclubbing wasn't the cleverist thing to do. I started with a one shot lead now I have a two shot lead but it looked good for a while, " said Els, who won last year's British Open.

Els has won the last three events he has played in, the Nedbank Challenge on home soil at the end of last year while two weeks ago he won the Mercedes Championship followed by the Sony Open, both played in Hawaii.

Zhang, whose last victory came last season when successfully defended his Macau Open title, dropped his only shot of the day on the 16th, but he retaliated with a birdie on 17. He missed a 10-footer on the last for birdie.

"Someone shouted in the crowd on the last which distracted me so I was disappointed but I played well today. Just one bogey was good going," said Zhang.