GURGAON (India), March 1: Japan’s Taichiro Kiyota produced a miraculous final-hole birdie to snatch the outright lead in the Johnnie Walker Classic on Saturday as favourite Adam Scott’s title charge faded.

Kiyota looked certain to drop a shot after flying over the grandstand on the last, but chipped blind to within three feet to take a one-shot lead into the final round of the $2.5-million showpiece.

The 27-year-old from Osaka had three other birdies, an eagle and one bogey in his 67 for an aggregate of 14-under-par 202, leading India’s Jyoti Randhawa and New Zealander Mark Brown.

Australian Greg Chalmers and Englishmen Phillip Archer and Graeme Storm were also well in contention after finishing the third day three shots off the lead.

Triple major winner Vijay Singh carded seven birdies and four bogies in a rollercoaster 69 which left him five back.

However, world No 5 Scott slumped to two-over-par 74 to lie eight off the pace, probably ending the 2005 champion’s hopes of a second Classic title.

Only Tiger Woods, Nick Faldo and Ernie Els have won the event twice.

Earlier India’s Gaurav Ghei was sensationally disqualified after an off-duty referee spotted an infringement on TV.

Ghei fired seven-under-par 65 to lie just one off the pace, only to be told of the highly unusual development as he finished his third round — a day after the offence.

The referee, watching TV coverage of Friday’s second round, noticed Ghei’s ball moved slightly before his chip to the 18th green, meaning he incurred a penalty which was not included in his score.

As he signed for the wrong score, Ghei, who did not see the ball move, was disqualified from the 2.5-million-dollar tournament.

Leading third-round scores:

202 – Taichiro Kiyota (Japan) 68, 67, 67.

203 – Mark Brown (New Zealand) 71, 68, 64; Jyoti Randhawa (India) 70, 65, 68.

205 – Phillip Archer (Britain) 72, 64, 69; Greg Chalmers (Australia) 68, 69, 68; Graeme Storm (Britain) 70, 66, 69.

206 – Shiv Kapur (India) 69, 65, 72; Scott Strange (Australia) 71, 67, 68; Daniel Vancsik (Argentina) 67, 71, 68.

207 – Raphael Jacquelin (France) 72, 68, 67; Vijay Singh (Fiji) 70, 68, 69.

208 – Arjun Atwal (India) 69, 72, 67; Scott Barr (Australia) 71, 70, 67; Adam Bland (Australia) 69, 68, 71; Tony Carolan (Australia) 71, 69, 68; James Kamte (South Africa) 68, 71, 69; Scott Laycock (Australia) 72, 68, 68; Paul Sheehan (Australia) 68, 70, 70; Jeev Milkha Singh (India) 68, 70, 70; Kane Webber (Australia) 73, 69, 66.—Agencies