Horrendous front nine pushes Johl to tied 69th in Caltex Open golf

Seoul, May 5 (UNI) Lone Indian in the fray, Amandeep Johl produced a horrendous front nine in his card of six-over 78 to lie tied 69th after round three in GS Caltex Maekyung Open here today.

Johl's 78 after rounds of 76 and 71 in the previous two days took him to a total of nine-over 225 and the Indian is now near the bottom of the chart in the six lakh dollar Asian Tour event.

The Chandigarh pro began the front nine with bogeys on second and fourth but the worst was to come as he sank double bogey in the fifth hole and followed it up with two bogeys in the next two holes to make the turn at six over.

He was saved from disaster by an even par return journey with a birdie and a bogey in the 12th and the 1ast holes.

Meanwhile, China's Liang Wen-chong stayed firmly on track to lift a second title of the season as he retained his overnight one-shot lead with a brilliant five-under 67 for a total 14-under 202.

Hot on Liang's heels is talented Korean youngster Kim Kyung-tae, who made it a two-horse race for the title after matching Liang's round with a blistering back nine performance.

Korean-born Australian Lee Won-joon, playing in his rookie season on the Asian Tour, carded the day's joint best round of 66 for third place -- thanks to six birdies -- seven shots behind leader Liang.

A further three strokes back in fourth place was American Anthony Kang, who carded a 68 for a 212 total.

UNI