Reigning champion Eugenio Chacarra from Spain widened his lead to four shots by carding a two-under 70 in round three, reaching a total of 10-under 206 at the US$2.55 million Indian Open 2026. South African MJ Daffue and Englishman Alex Fitzpatrick both shot 72 in the third round, securing joint second place at six-under 210.
Om Prakash Chouhan, representing Mhow in Madhya Pradesh, maintained his position as the top Indian player for the second consecutive day with a third-round score of 73, elevating him to tied 20th place at one-over 217.
During the morning session, 30 golfers completed round two, which had been interrupted by fading light on Friday. Three Indian players, including Om Prakash Chouhan, teenager Manoj S, and Kshitij Naveed Kaul, made the halfway cut at four-over 148.
Kshitij Naveed Kaul, who had four holes left in round two when play was halted, returned in the morning to secure a birdie and eagle, ensuring his dramatic qualification for the next round. Om Prakash Chouhan, the 2023 DP World PGTI Order of Merit champion, faced a challenging third round, registering five birdies along with four bogeys and a double-bogey.
Chouhan, a seasoned winner of 12 titles, expressed mixed feelings about his performance, acknowledging his struggles with putting and greens in regulation. Despite a tough day, he remained optimistic about his upcoming rounds.
Eighteen-year-old Manoj S from Bengaluru, participating in his debut Indian Open, encountered a rollercoaster round with three birdies but also a bogey and three double-bogeys, finishing the day tied in 54th place at six-over 222.
Kshitij Naveed Kaul closed the penultimate round with a 77, placing him tied in 63rd position at nine-over 225.
