India's Karan Taunk third at 1st stage of Asian Tour Q-School

Indian amateur Karan Taunk took a firm step in his endeavor to earn playing rights on the Asian Tour as he carded a fine bogey-free three-under 69 in the Qualifying School First Stage Section A here today.

He shot even par 72 in the first round and at three-under 141, he is third at the Royal Thai Army Sports Center.

The leader is Simon Griffiths of England, who followed his first round seven-under 65 with a six-under-par 66 to go 13-under and nine shots clear of second placed Mitchell Brown (74-66) and Taunk is third at three-under.

Griffiths is fighting to regain playing rights on the region's premier Tour after playing in it from 2006 to 2012. After four rounds of the First Stage Section A and Section B, the top 15 per cent players from each venue will qualify for the all-important Final Stage from February 12-15.
 

They will then join players who are already exempted into the Final Stage at the Imperial Lakeview and Springfield Royal where the top-40 finishers and ties will earn their Tour cards for 2014.