'I hit it much better today as compared to the previous rounds. My tee shots and approach shots set up some relatively easy birdie opportunities for me. My putting confidence was also quite high as I made a 12 feet birdie putt on the 13th. Importantly, I did not make any three-putt today,' said Siddikur.

If Siddikur was in good hitting form, Ranjit Singh (70, 71, 69) was hot with the putter. Ranjit's 69 in the penultimate round helped him end the day in second place.

The Chandigarh golfer produced five birdies against two bogeys Friday. The highlights of his third round were an excellent bunker shot on the 11th that led to a birdie and two long birdie putts on the 16th and 18th.

Bangalore-based professional Anirban Lahiri (72, 70, 70) was third at four under 212 while Harendra Gupta is a further stroke behind in fourth.

Bangalore's C Muniyappa was tied sixth at even par 216. Mukesh Kumar shared eighth place at one over 217 with another Bangalore golfer, R. Srinivas.