Irish duo joint second in New Delhi

Indian Masters:Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin held a one-stroke lead over Spain's Jose Manuel Lara and Ireland's Damien McGrane and Graeme McDowell heading into the final round of the Indian Masters.

BMW Asian Open champion Jacquelin, who missed the cut in Dubai last week, carded a level-par, third-round 72 to remain at six under par at the Delhi Golf Club.

Overnight leader McGrane (75) slipped back into a tie for second after windy conditions disrupted the gameplan which had handed him a two-stroke overnight lead and faint hope of a maiden European Tour title.

McDowell, fifth last week, fared slightly better and signed for a 73, while former Hong Kong Open champion Lara recorded a solitary birdie in a 71, which was the only bogey-free round of the day at the tight, tree-lined course.

McGrane reached the turn in 37 after he let slip back-to-back bogeys in the middle of his front nine before another brace of dropped shots followed at the start of the 36-year-old world number 319's trip home.

His second birdie of the round came at the par-five 14th, but McGrane was left to rue a unlucky bogey two holes later and missed birdie chances over the final two holes.

McGrane said: "We had to change a lot of clubs off the tee boxes which we don't like doing, but because the wind was so strong we had to change our gameplan a lot which made it difficult.

"But it was enjoyable. I had some good breaks and some bad breaks, but I need to play well in the final round. I didn't play much better than 75, but it's a good opportunity and someone is going to go on and win."

In-form McDowell, (28), was also pleased with his day's work despite the figure at the bottom of his scorecard, which showed just one birdie after the world number 88 had three-putted the final green with a share of the lead within his grasp.

"Scoring was difficult, the greens are getting really crusty as the week goes on and I didn't really hole a ton of putts," said McDowell, who will again partner McGrane in the penultimate final-round group.

"But par is still a great score. I haven't played myself out of the tournament and I'm right in the mix. That's all you can do, one back into Sunday, it's prime position."

Jacquelin, who last year finished 25th on the Order of Merit, held a two-stroke cushion with two to play, but dropped a shot on his penultimate hole after a three-foot par putt jumped out.

He also found the trees with his tee shot on the final fairway, but made par to complete a round which was highlighted by an eagle three with five holes to play.

SSP Chowrasia (71) and two-time European Tour winner Arjun Atwal (72) headed the Indian challenge at four under, while Basildon-born Ross McGowan, the 2007 Challenge Tour number two, carded a two-under-par 70 to sit a shot further back alongside Holland's Maarten Lafeber (73) and South Africa's Hendrik Buhrmann (75).

World number four Ernie Els was within striking distance at two under after he carded the best round of the day, a three-under-par 69, in calmer morning conditions.

The two-time US Open champion was in danger of failing to make the cut after an opening-round 75 before he responded with a second-round 70, but still began the day seven shots adrift.

An under-the-weather Darren Clarke was in contention after moving onto four under through 10 holes, but he shipped eight shots on his back nine to finish the day at four under par.