By Rahul Banerji
Udayan Mane sank three late birdies to top the leader-board in the Prometheus School Delhi-NCR Open at the Golden Greens Golf Club near Gurgaon on Thursday with a day to go.
The Pune-based golfer sits on 11-under-205 after a fine 5-under 67 to climb three places from overnight T4 at the Rs 30 lakh Tata Steel PGTI event.
For the burly Mane, a 10-time winner on the PGTI, it was the day’s lowest round and a second consecutive 67 after the opening day’s 71.
Noida’s Gaurav Pratap Singh also continued to progress up the standings with a second straight 68.
Gaurav, a past PGTI winner gained two places in round three to take second on 10-under-206.
Mane (71-67-67) kept sinking birdies at regular intervals as he capitalised on par-5 fifth and ninth by finding the greens in two shots.
He then had a 10-foot birdie conversion on the 12th.
Udayan’s only blemish came on 14 which he bogeyed after a couple of erratic shots but signed off with birdies on the last three holes.
Mane’s birdie on 18 was his third on a par-5 for the day.
Making gains
Mane said later, “I did really well on the par-5s today having made birdies on three out of four holes.
“I had a birdie chance on the par-5 11th too but I three-putted for a par there. I created opportunities for myself on almost every hole today.
“I was in great form just before the forced season break due to the pandemic early last year but struggled getting back into competitive golf after the lockdown.
“Bit rusty when the tour restarted in November. But my game and confidence seem to be improving with every passing event.
“Placing it well off the tees will now be the key in the last round as there is trouble on both sides on this golf course.”
Between December 2019 and February 2020 Mane had equalled the PGTI record with three straight wins but the lockdown interrupted that run.
Gaurav Pratap (70-68-68), whose win came back in 2009, raised hopes of a second title with a solid effort that featured five birdies and a bogey.
He began the day with a birdie but had to wait for the next one till the ninth.
Singh had a good day with his wedges and made some quality chip-putts. He picked up two more shots in quick succession after the turn to briefly take the lead.
However, after adding another birdie on 17, Gaurav dropped a shot on 18 where he had a tough lie in the bunker.
Good momentum
A two-time winner on the Feeder Tour, Singh said, “I’m carrying the momentum from my last round at Ahmedabad where I struck a six-under.
“I changed my equipment at the start of the year. I’ve had to make some adjustments in my game.
“But it seems things are finally settling in now since I’ve played some consistent golf this week too after the low score in Ahmedabad.
“I was hitting it close through the day but the putts only started rolling in for me from the ninth hole onwards.”
Patna’s Aman Raj (72-66-69) moved up one place to third on 9-under-207 with a 3-under 69 that featured an eagle, two birdies and a bogey.
Aman holed out from the fairway bunker from 167 yards out for an eagle-two on the par-4 14th hole.
Round two leader Chikkarangappa S. of Bangalore dropped to tied fourth place on 8-under-208 with a 73 on Thursday.
Late struggles
Chikka, who won on the PGTI last month in Ahmedabad, was in the lead till hole 11 having made three birdies and a bogey.
However, he dropped four shots between 12 and 16 to slip up but pulled one shot back with a closing birdie.
Delhi’s Manav Jaini carded a 69 to join Chikka in tied fourth place.
Bangalore’s Khalin Joshi (71) and Tapy Ghai (73) of Gurgaon were tied sixth place on 7-under-209.
Chandigarhs PGTI Order of Merit leader Karandeep Kochhar (70) and Ajeetesh Sandhu (72) were among five in T8 on 6-under-210.
Kolkata’s Rahil Gangjee (68) was T13 on 5-under-211 while Delhi’s Rashid Khan (71), India’s top-ranked golfer, , was T17 on 4-under-212.
Also read: Three share first round lead at Delhi-NCR Open Golf C’ship
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