Keita Nakajima doubled his advantage at the top of the Hero Indian Open leaderboard and will take a four-stroke lead into the final day in search of a maiden DP World Tour victory.
Related: Veer Ahlawat in contention as Keita Nakajima seizes lead in HIO
The Japanese carded a four under par round of 68 to reach 18 under par after three days at DLF Golf & Country Club.
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The 23-year-old started the day two strokes ahead, but he was reeled in by Romain Langasque as the Frenchman carded four birdies on the front nine with the pair tied on 16 under after ten holes.
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Nakajima, who won three times on the Japan Golf Tour last year as he topped the Order of Merit, regained the lead after gains on the 11th and 12th holes, with his birdie on the 12th being his fifth of the day. He then cancelled out a bogey on the 14th with another birdie at the last to move to 18 under par.
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Malaysia’s Gavin Green carded an eight under par 64 as he moved into second place on 14 under par, hoping to go one better than his runner-up finish at this event in 2017. Langasque lost ground as he played his back nine two over par, and a birdie on the last saw him draw level with Green for a share of second.
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Frenchman Jeong Weon Ko and Italy’s Matteo Manassero share fourth on 13 under par, while Veer Ahlawat remains the highest-placed home hope as he carded a three under par 69 to reach 12 under.
Player Quotes
Keita Nakajima: “One more day. I will try my best. Keep the same tempo, all the same, just keep going. I feel very confident in my game. My ball-striking and swing has been pretty good this week.
“I had great experiences in my amateur career, but I’m a professional now. I played the Japan Tour last year and a few other events where I played well, great experience. I’ll just keep going.”
Gavin Green: “It was a solid round. Lots of fairways, gave myself lots of lucks and made some putts. That’s the difference, you’ve got to hit fairways out here. It’s intimidating off the tee. I felt like today was a nice step in the right direction. It was just a solid day.
“It’s funny. It’s a course that doesn’t suit the bombers, someone that hits it long. It’s intimidating off the tee, you have to narrow your focus. I feel like I’ve done pretty well so far. We’re just going to go out and play our game, keep it on the fairway, keep it on the green, add it all up at the end and see what happens.”
Romain Langasque: “I think that was the most solid on this course at the moment. A small mistake on the 13th cost me an easy five, unfortunately 16 was a tough hole. I had such a bad lie in the rough and I chip-chip and two-putt. I had so many birdie opportunities, even on the last.
“I took my chances, and I think this is what I will do tomorrow if I start well. On this course, it can happen, many things, like a birdie against a bogey or a birdie against a double bogey and then that’s three shots. (Keita) was very solid today, he played well. If he gets this rhythm tomorrow it’s going to be tough to reach him, but I will do my best to start the round well, put pressure on him, seeing me back there. It can go quick.”
