Can Jamal Hossain Maintain His Dominance in the Telangana Golconda Masters?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Jamal Hossain leads the tournament with a total score of 23-under 187.
- Akshay Sharma maintains second place with 19-under 291.
- Challenging weather conditions impacted play during the third round.
- Jamal's performance included seven birdies and one bogey.
- Final round promises to be competitive with top contenders closely behind.
Hyderabad, Sep 25 (NationPress) Bangladesh's Jamal Hossain showcased his exceptional skills during the third round, securing a commanding four-shot lead and positioning himself as the clear frontrunner for the title in the Telangana Golconda Masters 2025, a prestigious INR 1 crore event held at the Hyderabad Golf Association (HGA) on Thursday.
With scores of (61-62-64), Jamal, who previously held a three-shot lead at the halfway point, extended his advantage by shooting a remarkable six-under 64, bringing his total to an impressive 23-under 187. This 40-year-old golfer from Dhaka has maintained the top position for three consecutive days.
Akshay Sharma from Chandigarh, with scores of (62-64-65), posted a 65 to remain in second place for the third day running, finishing the windy day with a total of 19-under 291, despite a drizzle affecting the last 30 minutes of play.
Khalin Joshi from Bengaluru recorded a 66, closing the penultimate round in third place with a total of 13-under 197, gaining one spot.
Both Shaurya Bhattacharya from Delhi and Manu Gandas from Gurugram shared the fourth position with rounds of 64, standing at 12-under 198. Arjun Prasad, currently ranked second in the PGTI's merit list, shot a consecutive 65 to rise to sixth place at 11-under 199.
Chandigarh's Vishav Pratap Singh Gill achieved the best score of the day at 63, moving up 28 spots to seventh at nine-under 201, while local golfer Vishesh Sharma from Hyderabad shot a 67 to tie for 22nd at five-under 205.
Jamal Hossain, a five-time winner on the PGTI who had a flawless first two rounds, continued his stellar performance on Thursday with seven birdies and only one bogey. His four early birdies included remarkable conversions from 25 and 40 feet.
The only bogey of his tournament came on the ninth hole due to an errant tee shot, but he quickly recovered with three more birdies, showcasing his outstanding hitting skills. Notably, he drove the green on the Par-4 14th.
"Today, I hit numerous greens in regulation as my tee and approach shots were accurate. I focused on minimizing errors throughout the day, with the ninth hole being the only mishap. I'm pleased with my performance, especially considering the challenging winds," Jamal stated.
"As we head into the final day, maintaining this rhythm is crucial, and I will concentrate on my strengths from earlier this week. Having been a runner-up twice this season, I’ve learned from past mistakes, and I believe this will benefit me moving forward," added Jamal, who is currently ranked 14th in the 2025 PGTI Order of Merit.
Akshay Sharma's impressive 65 on Thursday positioned him as Jamal's closest competitor, highlighting the gap between the leading duo and the rest of the participants.