Rahil Gangjee drops to tied 36th in Mauritius Open

Rahil Gangjee dropped 30 spots after carding a three-over 74 in the third round

Domaine de Bel Ombre (Mauritius), May 9 (IANS): Indian golfer Rahil Gangjee dropped 30 places to be joint 36th after carding an underwhelming three-over 74 in the third round of the $1.1 million Mauritius Open here on Saturday.

After scoring 67 and 70 in the first two rounds respectively, Gangjee dropped his intensity and was three-over for a three-day total of two-under 211 at the par-71 Heritage Golf Club.

"Hopefully I will get some good luck tomorrow. When I came into the tournament, I was just trying to make the cut and play as good as I can," Gangjee, who is half-Mauritian, said in a release.

"I guess you get caught up when you are in a situation, nothing happens. And then this happens. It was really disappointing."

Another Indian in the fray, Gaganjeet Bhullar carded one-under 71 to share 61st position with one-over 214 as total.

Veteran Singaporean Mardan Mamat battled to a four-under 67 to lie three strokes behind new leader George Coetzee after the third round of the tournament tri-sanctioned by the Asian, European and Sunshine Tours.

The four-time Asian Tour winner traded five birdies against a bogey to lie in solo fourth position heading into the final day.

South African star Coetzee equalled the course record with a brilliant six-under 65 to surge one shot ahead of countryman Thomas Aiken and overnight leader Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark who returned a 68 and 70 respectively.

Asian Tour regular Carlos Pigem of Spain dropped two late bogeys for a 69 to earn a share of fifth place with amongst others, Australian Nathan Holman, four back of Coetzee, who leads on 11-under 202.

Power-packed Coetzee, who is ranked 63rd in the world, crafted four birdies and holed out for a stunning eagle from the fairway on the par-five seventh hole to charge into contention.