Kolkata, Feb 4 (IANS) Veteran Mukesh Kumar fired a four under 66 to race into a three-stroke lead on day three of the Aircel-PGTI Players Championship golf here Thursday.

Mukesh currently is at 10-under 200 and is three strokes ahead of Manav Jaini.

Mukesh (65, 69, 66), now staring at a record ninth title on the Aircel-PGTI, played a steady and bogey-free round to ensure that he enjoys a comfortable lead heading into the final round. He birdied the fifth and seventh to make the turn at two under. Mukesh had an eagle opportunity from 20 feet on the seventh but just missed out on that putt.

The 44-year-old from Mhow was hitting the ball extremely well and therefore set up another eagle putt on the 10th. He missed the 10-footer but managed to garner a birdie on the 10th. Mukesh's last birdie of the day came on the 13th where he converted a difficult (uphill) birdie putt from 20 feet.

Manav Jaini (67, 67, 69), who is currently second at seven under 203, made five birdies against four bogeys for his 69 on Thursday. The Delhi-based professional was one over after 14 holes but then made consecutive birdies on the 15th and 16th to finish at one under for the day. Jaini fired his sand wedge shot from 100 yards to within two feet for an important birdie on the 16th.

Anthony Choat of Australia, Kolkata's Raju Ali Mollah and Mhow-based Om Prakash Chouhan are tied third at five under 205.

Digvijay Singh is a further stroke behind in sixth place. Shiv Prakash and Kolkata's Feroz Ali Mollah share seventh place at three under 207.

Anthony Choat and Shiv Prakash's scores of seven under 63 were the best in round three.