Jeev jumps into joint lead in JT Cup

TOKYO: Defending champion Jeev Milkha Singh is in contention for a second successive Golf Nippon Series JT Cup title after moving into joint lead with a four-under 66 in the third round here on Saturday.
    
Jeev sank in six birdies against a couple of bogeys to take his total to seven-under 203 and share a two-stroke lead with local favourite Hiroshi Iwata, who carded a five-under 65, studded with five birdies and an eagle against two bogeys at the Tokyo Yomiuri Country Club.
    
Jeev made a scintillating start by striking a hat-trick of birdies from the first hole but was pulled back by a dropped shot on the par-four fifth hole. However, the seasoned-pro made up for the lapse by gaining a stroke on the seventh to make the turn three-under.
    
His backward journey was also going smooth as he struck birdies on the 12th and 15th but missed the chance to take the sole lead by stumbling to a bogey on the par-five 17th hole.
    
Meanwhile, a couple of shots behind Jeev and Iwata was the Japanese quartet of Wen-Chong Liang (65), Hiroyuki Fujita (65), Toru Taniguchi (67) and Hirofumi Miyase (68) and Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng (68).