Khalin Joshi battled through demanding conditions to return a three-under 69 and retain a three-shot lead after the third round of the INR 1 crore Bengaluru Open 2026 powered by IndianOil at the Karnataka Golf Association (KGA).
The 34-year-old Bengaluru golfer (61-68-69), who began the day six strokes clear, made an eagle and three birdies against two bogeys to reach 18-under 198 heading into the final round.
Gurugram’s Manu Gandas (69-68-64) mounted the strongest challenge, firing the day’s lowest score with a bogey-free eight-under 64. The 2023 DP World PGTI Rankings champion climbed from tied third to second at 15-under 201, cutting Joshi’s advantage in half.
Gandas, currently 20th in the Race to DP World India Championship, made eight birdies, including three in succession from the 10th to the 12th.
Race to DP World India Championship leader Saptak Talwar (67-70-68) moved into sole third place at 11-under 205. The Greater Noida golfer’s four-under 68 featured five birdies and one bogey.
Gurugram’s Veer Ahlawat (68-69-69) and local teenager Manoj S (65-70-71) shared fourth place at 10-under 206.
Joshi found the third round more difficult as the wind strengthened, the greens quickened and the flag positions became increasingly challenging.
“It was a challenging round,” Joshi said. “I didn’t strike the ball particularly well, but I held the round together and avoided playing myself out of the tournament. I’m still in a comfortable position and looking forward to tomorrow.”
The highlight of his round came at the par-five fifth. After his tee shot narrowly avoided the hazard, Joshi laid up before holing a lob wedge from 94 yards for an eagle.
“I played it as a 102-yard shot into the wind because I knew there was a backstop beyond the hole,” he said. “The ball landed past the pin, spun back and went in.”
Joshi later three-putted for a bogey and dropped another shot on the 15th after his drive found a plugged lie in a bunker. He responded strongly, however, closing with consecutive birdies to protect his lead.
“The three-putt came from a poor first putt and a slight lapse in concentration,” Joshi said. “On the 15th, I didn’t hit a good tee shot and was unlucky with the lie, but I made a good bogey and finished strongly with two birdies.”
Gandas, meanwhile, converted the opportunities he had been creating throughout the week. His bogey-free effort was his second successive round without a dropped shot.
“For the past three days, I’ve been giving myself plenty of birdie chances,” Gandas said. “The difference today was that I converted more of them. It was a well-balanced round, and going bogey-free for the second consecutive day was particularly satisfying.”
Long birdie putts on the second and 12th helped sustain his charge.
“Both putts rolled exactly as I had visualised,” Gandas said. “Those conversions kept the round moving in the right direction.”
Gandas also takes confidence from his record at KGA, where he won twice during his junior career.
“I have some wonderful memories here,” he said. “The course is in excellent condition, and I’m pleased to be in contention heading into the final round.”
Local golfer Chikkarangappa made a hole-in-one on the 13th during his round of 73. He was tied 33rd at one-over 217.
The Bengaluru Open is the final tournament before the top 60 on the 2026 DP World PGTI Order of Merit are confirmed. Players finishing inside the top 60 will retain their playing rights for the 2026-27 season.
Photo – PGTI / Khalin Joshi
