Ajeetesh Sandhu climbs to T-36 after third round in Singapore

A third straight under-par round from India’s Ajeetesh Sandhu saw him move 14 spots up the leaderboard to tied 36th after round three of the Moutai Singapore Open at Singapore Island Country Club.

Sandhu added a 2-under 70 to his earlier rounds of 70 and 69 to reach 7-under 209. His card featured five birdies, but three bogeys halted what looked like a move towards the top 20. He goes into the final round eight shots behind the leading group at the US$2 million event.

At the top, overnight leader Soomin Lee from Korea held his position, joining compatriot Jeunghun Wang and American James Piot in a three-way share of the lead at 15-under. Lee shot a bogey-free 69, while Wang and Piot both returned 67s on the New Course. They are one shot clear of Japan’s Yosuke Asaji (65) and Korea’s Bio Kim (67).

Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond (68), the 2019 champion at a different venue, is another stroke back alongside Australian Kevin Yuan and South Africa’s Ian Snyman, who both posted 69s.

Lee, who finished runner-up on this course at the 2011 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, birdied the par-5 18th after reaching the green in two to join Wang and Piot at the top. “It was really tough today,” he said. “It got windy on the back nine, but I still played bogey free and making birdie on the last felt really good.”

Wang, a three-time DP World Tour winner chasing his first victory in seven years, compiled six birdies and one bogey. Piot, the 2021 US Amateur champion, stayed bogey free and birdied the final hole to complete his 67.

Further down, Filipino Miguel Tabuena sits at 10-under and is well placed to gain ground in both the Asian Tour Order of Merit and The International Series standings, with leaders Scott Vincent and Kazuki Higa having missed the cut.

Photo – Ajeetesh Sandhu/Asian Tour