Lonely Ghei keeps hopes alive of top-ten finish

Sanya, China, Mar 17 (UNI) Lone Indian left in the fray, Gaurav Ghei came up with his best show of the week --a four-under 68 -- to revive hopes of a strong finish after the penultimate round of the million-dollar TCL Classic here today.

Ghei, tied 27th, needs to cover tremendous ground if he is to mount a serious challenge for a top-ten finish. He aggregates nine-under 207 so far and is 12 shots off the runaway leader Chapchai Nirat of Thailand, who enjoys a five-stroke buffer atop the table.

Yesterday, countrymates Shiv Kapur and Amandeep Johl, both fell by the wayside.

Tied 55th overnight, Ghei was in blistering form at the Yalong Bay Golf Club today as he reeled off as many as seven birdies, including a hatrick of birdies twice, once from the seventh hole and the next time on back nine from the 12th hole.

However, he spoilt the show somewhat by double-bogeying the par-three third hole and also dropped a shot on the fifth hole.

Englishmen Miles Tumicliff and Japan's Taichi Teshima lie joint second behind the big-hitting Thai, Nirat.

UNI