Golf: Johl sixth in China

Amandeep Johl stayed in touch with the leaders with a gritty two-under par 70 on the third day of the Crowne Plaza Open at the Yalong Bay golf club which saw all six Indians in the top 25 of the field.

 Johl, who has had two top-three finishes this season, had a superb three-under front nine, but found his touch deserting him on his way back.

But the Indian veteran held on for a one-over 37 and finished with a 70 that put him in tied sixth place at 10-under 206, five off the lead held by teenager Chinarat Phadsungil.

Thai prodigy Phadsungil carded a 68, despite a closing bogey, and stands at 15-under for a two-shot lead over Australian Unho Park (66) and 2005 Asian Tour No 1 Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand (68).

Adam Blyth (70) and overnight leader Lin Wen-Tang (74) were fourth and fifth at 12-under 204 and 11-under 205 respectively. Johl, Anthony Kang (64) and Robin Hodgetts (68) were at 10-under in sixth place.

It was a mixed day for the Indians. While S S P Chowrasia rose from tied 34th to tied 19th with a four-under 68, Gaurav Ghei (70) slid from tied ninth to tied 13th. Harmeet Kahlon (73) dropped from tied ninth to tied 23rd, where he gave company to Rahil Gangjee (71) and Digvijay Singh (69) at five-under.

Gangjee stayed at his overnight position, while Digvijay moved up from 34th to 23rd ensuring all six Indians are inside the top-25.