By Rahul Banerji
Overnight leader Yuvraj Singh Sandhu opened a two-shot lead over the chasing pack with a fine 5-under 67 in round three of the IndianOil Servo Masters in Digboi on Friday.
The Chandigarh golfer aggregates 15-under 201 and now looks well set for a title push at the Rs 60 lakh event
Yuvraj (66-68-67), in search of his maiden win on the PGTI, came up with seven birdies and two bogeys at the Digboi Golf Links.
Mhow’s Om Prakash Chouhan (66-70-67), a six-time winner on the PGTI also shot a 67 to hold second place on 13-under 203, the PGTI said.
The 24-year-old Yuvraj, overnight leader by one shot, opened with four pars before reeling off three birdies over the next four holes where he came up with some great wedge shots from between 80 and 120 yards.
The two-time winner on the PGTI Feeder Tour, then made his first three-putt of the week to concede a bogey on the eighth.
He followed that up with another dropped shot on 10.
The 2019 Feeder Tour Order of Merit champion then made a crucial up and down from 20 yards on 11 to pick up a shot and get his round back on track.
Sandhu then went on a roll, sinking birdies on 12, 14 and 15 with some quality up and downs.
Yuvraj, currently ranked 11th on the PGTI Order of Merit, said, “I started with a cold putter but from the fifth hole onwards I got my putter going.
Key putts
“The birdies on 11 and 12 were key in setting up the momentum on the back nine.
“I knew the others were closing up on me after the turn, so I felt the need to make more birdies and press further a little to make sure that my lead was intact. Happy that I was able to carry forward the advantage into the final round.
“I don’t want to change anything for the final day. I’m not even considering it as a final round. I’ll be treating it just like any other round.
“But I know that there will be some pressure and anxiety obviously which I will need to deal with. However, it’s a good place to be on the board going into round four.”
Chouhan struggled with his hitting at the start of round three as he was one-over for the day till the fifth hole.
Gaining ground
However, the Mhow golfer made amends with six birdies thereafter including three on the trot on 15, 16 and 17 to close in on the leader.
Chouhan, currently 14th on the PGTI’s merit list and looking for his second title of the season, chipped-in on 17.
Bangalore’s M. Dharma sank five birdies and a bogey in his 68 to gain two spots for tied third on 11-under 205.
Chandigarh’s Harendra Gupta, a former winner in Digboi, slipped one place to join Dharma third following a 70 featuring four birdies and two bogeys.
Gurgaon’s Dhruv Sheoran carded a 68 to occupy fifth place on 10-under 206.
The seasoned Mukesh Kumar of Mhow, who has a record six wins in Digboi, returned the day’s best of 7-under 65 with eight birdies and a bogey.
Mukesh’s brilliant round propelled him to tied sixth place on 9-under 207.
Local golfer Deepraj Chetia (69-71-72) was tied 18th on 4-under 212.
Also read: 21st IndianOil Servo Masters set for tee-off at Digboi Golf Links
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