Nagoya (Japan): Jeev Milkha Singh, looking for his first title in more than 16 months, turned in one of his best putting performances of the year and put himself in a great position at the midway stage of the Crowns tournament here on Friday.

Jeev, after a sedate opening nine, went on a birdie spree on the back nine to card a three-under 67 and moved into tied fourth place, just one shot behind the leading trio.

The 37-year-old Jeev, whose last title came in Japan in December 2006, opened with a birdie on second, but bogeys on third and the sixth set him back. However on the back nine, he shot four birdies between 11th and 15th. His putting was so hot that he needed just 22 for the round, with 12 single putts.

"It was good to see the putter working like this and it gave me great satisfaction to see the ball dropping into the cup. But I am also happy with my ball striking," said Jeev, the Asian Tour No. 1 in 2006. "I had a good Masters but was then unwell during the BMW Asian Open weekend."

"I need to keep going with my routines and not worry about results. As long as I am contending or close to it, I know my time will come," said Jeev, who has finished second twice this year in co-sanctioned events in Indonesia and Korea.

Ryoken Kawagishi (65), Steve Conran (66) and Satoru Hirota (66) shared the lead at six-under 204. Kawagishi and Hirota had bogey free rounds, while Conran had just one bogey on what was a good scoring day.

Sharing the fourth place, at 205, with Jeev was Liang Wen-Chong (68), Asian Tour No. 1 in 2007, and Nobuhiro Masuda (66).

Asian Tour's Prayad Marksaeng (70) was tied 18th at two-under 208 while SK Ho (72) was 31st at one-under 209.

 

Source : IANS