Long after Laycock, who started at three over, had turned in his red hot nine-under card, Atwal came in with a six-under. That put him at 10-under for 54 holes, and a clear leader by three strokes at the end of the third day in the $ 300,000 Indian Open golf tournament at RCGC. Twenty-five players came under par and another six shot par for the course. The course had been tamed but none did it better than Laycock. So did Atwal and Marksaeng, both of whom carded six-under 66 each. To add to that there were two 67s from Thamanoon Sriroj of Thailand and American Mike Tschetter.

Laycock held the limelight by producing a record-equalling 63 whichsaw him take the elevator up from the joint 38th place to the joint third place, which he shares with the amiable Scott Rowe and Aussie David Gleeson. Laycock's card of 63, which had two eagles and six birdies, was spoilt somewhat by a bogey on the final hole and he had to be content in equalling Edward Fryatt's course record set in 1997.

Basad Ali, with his one-under 71 for the day, was par for three days at the joint 19th place. Jyoti Randhawa fell way behind into the 42nd place with a 76 for the day.