In a truly spectacular display, Sri Lanka’s N. Thangaraja soared to the top of the leaderboard at the Chennai Open 2025. During the crucial third round, famously dubbed ‘moving day,’ he fired an astounding nine-under 63, matching the tournament’s lowest score. This phenomenal performance unfolded at the challenging Cosmo TNGF Golf Course on Thursday.
Beginning the day four strokes behind the leaders in a tie for fourth, Thangaraja showed incredible resolve and skill. His impressive rounds of 69, 66, and now 63 culminate in a total of 18-under 198, giving him a slim one-shot advantage as we head into the final round. This significant jump saw him climb three positions, leaving his competitors scrambling to catch up.
The stage is now perfectly set for a captivating rivalry to unfold, as Thangaraja finds himself closely pursued by Manu Gandas. Remarkably, Gandas clinched victory against Thangaraja in a thrilling comeback at the Chennai Open just three years ago. This time, Gandas is hot on his heels, having delivered a flawless round of 65 to advance to second place with a total of 17-under 199, just one stroke adrift.
Meanwhile, Delhi’s Shaurya Bhattacharya, despite a respectable round of 69, saw his position drop slightly. He now sits in third place at 15-under 201, a testament to the intense competition at the top of the leaderboard.
The overnight leader, Akshay Sharma from Chandigarh, faced a challenging ‘moving day,’ posting a round of 71. This led to him slipping to a tie for fourth place with a total of 14-under 202, demonstrating how quickly fortunes can change in professional golf.
N. Thangaraja exhibiting his excellent form during the third round of the tournament.