Bhullar leads Fiji golf while Els surges

Gaganjeet Bhullar has a one-stroke lead going into the final round of the Fiji International while Ernie Els' brilliant back nine put him three off the pace.

India's Gaganjeet Bhullar has taken a one-stroke lead and Ernie Els has surged into contention after the third round of the Fiji International.

Bhullar, who plays mainly on the Asian Tour, shot a second consecutive 69 on Saturday to move to eight under after three rounds, a shot clear of Australians Jake McLeod, Jarryd Felton, Terry Pilkadaris and Andrew Dodt.

New Zealand's Ben Campbell, who led the $US1.2 million ($A1.6 million) tournament by four shots after the second round, had a five-over 77 and dropped back into sixth place at six under.

That's a stroke ahead of Els, who carded a 69 to lie seventh, three shots off the lead at Natadola Bay.

Els produced a brilliant back nine to revive his week in Fiji and sit only three shots off the lead at five under.

The South African had been tied for 19th after an even-par first round of 72 and was 20th after his two-under 70 in the second round.

Bogeys on the seventh and eighth holes on Saturday dropped him back to one under, eight shots behind Campbell, who was still in front early in the third round.

But the four-time major champion had four birdies in his last 10 holes to move into contention as players still on the course battled high winds.

Els hasn't finished in the top-10 at a professional tournament since June 2016 and had missed cuts in his past eight tournaments before Saturday.

"There is a low score out there for me," he said.

"I'm starting to hit the ball nicely, starting to get a bit more confidence in the putter. So it's there and if it really blows tomorrow anything can happen."


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Source: AAP


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