Chacarra's India Experience Fuels Lead at Hero Indian Open; International Series Lessons Pay Off

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Gurugram, March 29: Spain's Eugenio Chacarra showcased his resilience with a gritty 1-over 73 to claim a one-shot lead over defending champion Japan's Keita Nakajima (74) and South African Brandon Stone (71) after the third round of the 2025 Hero Indian Open here on Saturday (March 29).

England's Matthew Jordan (73) and Sweden's Jens Dantorp (73) were another shot behind at 1-under after 54 holes.

On what is traditionally known as 'Moving Day,' the players found themselves battling rather than advancing on the challenging DLF Golf & Country Club course. No player managed a bogey-free round, only five golfers were under par after three rounds, and just three played under par on the day, with none breaking 70.

The treacherous Black Knight Course tested the character of every contender. By the end of the day, the overnight co-leaders remained in the hunt, setting up an intense final-round battle with five players within two shots of Chacarra's lead.

Chacarra's Steady Resolve

The Spaniard began the third round tied at the top with Nakajima at four-under par. However, early struggles, including two bogeys on the front nine, pushed him two shots behind at the turn. Meanwhile, Nakajima's impressive run of 14 successive pars ended with a bogey on the 15th. Chacarra capitalised on the moment, making a birdie on the same hole to grab a share of the lead. When Nakajima bogeyed the 17th, Chacarra found himself alone at the top.

Attempting an aggressive approach on the 18th, the 25-year-old opted to go for the green in two but found himself in the rough. He settled for a closing par, maintaining a slender one-shot advantage over Stone and Nakajima heading into the final round.

Lessons from International Series India

Chacarra's familiarity with the demanding layout of the DLF Golf & Country Club proved invaluable. During the International Series India, presented by DLF earlier this year, the Spaniard had surged into contention with a stunning six-under 30 on the back nine in the opening round, including an eagle. However, despite flashes of brilliance, he finished tied-fifth at the same venue nearly two months ago.

This time, the lessons learned from that campaign have helped Chacarra navigate the unforgiving course with greater control. After solid rounds of two-under-par on both Day 1 and Day 2, the Spaniard remained composed despite tougher conditions in Round 3.

The Challenge of the Course

England's Marcus Armitage had shared the lead with Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts and Sweden's Marcus Kinhult at two-under after Round 2. However, all three struggled to maintain momentum, while Chacarra - already a winner on the Asian Tour at the 2023 St Andrews Bay Championship (also part of The International Series) - adjusted his strategy to emerge at the top on the penultimate day.

Reflecting on how the course played differently this time around, Chacarra said, "I mean, it's very similar. It's just really hard. I think it's a little firmer at this time of year. Back in February, there were fog delays, which made the greens softer and a bit easier. But this course, there's nothing easy about it. Every hole is tough. It's just about being patient, patient, and patient. I didn't make a lot of putts today, but I stayed calm, took it hole by hole, and focused on my next shot. That's been my approach all week, and hopefully, I can carry that into the final round."

At No. 309 in the world rankings, Chacarra is proving his mettle on one of the toughest courses in the world. With a battle-hardened approach and valuable experience from his previous outing, he now stands on the brink of a significant triumph at the Hero Indian Open.