Crans Montana, Sept 7: India’s Anirban Lahiri struggled as he carded a four-over 75 that saw him tumble down from overnight tied eighth to joint 32nd at the end of the penultimate round of Omega European Masters here today.
Lahiri, who opened the week with an eighth-under 63, is now four-under 209 for three rounds and 12 shots behind the new leader, Lee Craig, who carded a stunning round of 11-under 61.
Shiv Kapur (70) and Gaganjeet Bhullar (70) are also tied 32nd with Lahiri as all other Indians have missed the cut.
Lahiri’s steep fall came through five bogeys and a double bogey with just three birdies to compensate for them.
He recorded three birdies and three bogeys on the front nine and then suffered two more bogeys and a double bogey on closing 18th to go down the leaderboard.
Meanwhile, a first sub-par round of 60 in the history of The European Tour evaded Craig Lee but the Scot still led the Omega European Masters after his brilliant 61.
The Scot incredibly birdied eight times on the front nine, his streak only ended by a par on seven, to fly up the leaderboard.
He picked up a further shot at ten and, following a par at the next, looked in good shape to make history.
Lee was to pay the price for a poor tee shot on 11 and ultimately holed a ten footer to escape with bogey. Yet he found the perfect riposte when moving back at nine under for the round following a stunning tee shot on the par three 13th.
Lee benefited from a positive second shot just short of the green to pick up another on the 14th, yet could only par in thereafter.
However, that did not detract from a stunning performance that left him two strokes ahead of Victor Dubuisson, Alejandro Cañizares and Thomas Bjorn on 16 under heading into the final round. (PTI)
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