Dharma, Hossain lead by 2 strokes in Tata Open

Jamshedpur: M Dharma of Bangalore and Bangladesh's Md Zamal Hossain Mollah jointly grabbed a two-stroke lead ahead of the final round of the 12th Tata Open golf tournanment here today. While Dharma posted a four-under-67 in round three, Zamal came up with a two-under-69 as both players ended up with a three-day tally of 11-under-203.

Jamshedpur-based amateur Karan Taunk was placed third at nine-under-205. M Dharma (66-70-67) fired a bogey-free 67 to climb from overnight tied second to joint first. Dharma made a birdie on first hole for the third straight day with a 10 feet conversion. He made it two birdies in a row with a brilliant chip on the second that stopped three feet from the hole.

The 27-year-old continued to impress with his chipping as he landed it within a foot on the ninth and within a couple of inches on the 12th to make birdies on both occasions. Dharma thus ended up with the best score of the day. Md Zamal Hossain Mollah (70-64-69), the overnight leader, made four birdies and two bogeys for a 69 that kept him at the top of the pack along with Dharma.

Mollah's chip on the second set up a tap-in for birdie. The 28-year-old left himself birdie putts from six feet and less on the sixth, 13th and 17th, thanks to his excellent iron-play. Local lad Karan Taunk (67-69-69) carded a 69 to keep his title hopes alive.

He made four birdies and a double-bogey in round three to be placed two strokes behind the joint leaders. Gurgaon's Shubhankar Sharma, Gaurav Pratap Singh of Noida and Delhi's Manav Jaini were in tied fourth position at seven-under-207.

Defending champion Mithun Perera of Sri Lanka was placed tied 10th at four-under-210. The entire field comprising the 61 players who made the cut, played nine holes each on both courses, Beldih and Golmuri. Thirty-three golfers with the best scores at the end of round two teed off from Golmuri and finished at Beldih. The par for the combined courses was 71. The format would also be followed in the fourth and final round on Sunday.