Navi Mumbai, Dec 18 (NationPress) Rohan Dhole Patil shattered the previous course record with a remarkable seven-under 64, propelling himself into a tie for the lead at 10-under 203 alongside Veer Ahlawat, who recorded a two-over 73, during the third round of the INR 1 crore CIDCO Open 2025. This marks the inaugural professional tournament held at the Kharghar Valley Golf Course (KVGC) in Navi Mumbai.

Pune's Rohan Patil (70-69-64), in pursuit of his first title, surpassed the former course record of 65, which was set by Veer Ahlawat (65-65-73) in the opening round. Rohan made a significant leap of nine spots from his overnight tied 10th position, while Gurugram's Veer, who led for the first two days, maintained his place at the top of the leaderboard.

Subash Tamang (71-68-65) from Nepal, also vying for his maiden victory, made impressive progress with his 65 on day three, moving up seven spots to a total of nine-under 204. Michele Ortolani from Italy (67-66-72) concluded the day further back in fourth place at eight-under 205.

Rohan Dhole Patil started the third round trailing the leader by nine shots but steadily gained momentum on the front nine, scoring three birdies by consistently hitting close to the pins.

Despite recording two bogeys on the back nine, Rohan kept his momentum with an eagle and four additional birdies, showcasing his excellent chipping and putting skills, including an eagle from 18 feet on the 16th hole.

Rohan remarked, “Today, every facet of my game aligned perfectly, yielding great results. I have been striving for this. My chipping and putting were particularly sharp on the back nine.”

“I truly enjoyed playing at KVGC. It’s a genuine test of skills. Breaking a course record is a unique sensation that boosts my confidence heading into the final round. CIDCO has excelled in developing this golf course, which has evolved since my initial experience when it was just a nine-hole course.”

Veer Ahlawat, the leader entering the day with a three-shot advantage, faced challenges with three birdies and five bogeys but managed to hold onto his lead for a third consecutive day.

Veer stated, “Today was difficult, and my putting wasn't up to par. I also struggled on the shorter holes where I should have capitalized. However, I feel positive about my game. My objective was to stay close to the lead, knowing that today was just a setback. I’m confident I can bounce back strong tomorrow.”