Overnight leader Angad Cheema had to dig deep to retain his advantage undser constant pressure from playing partner Rashid Khan on day three of the Telangaga Open at Vooty Golf County near Hyderabad on Thursday. Image courtesy DP World/PGTI.
By Rahul Banerji
Overnight leaderAngad Cheema retained a two-shot lead after the third round of the Rs 1 crore Telangana Open at Vooty Golf County, Vikarabad, on Thursday.
Cheema, 36, who could win his fifth DP World PGTI title and a sixth overall, shot a 7 under 65 par to total 20 under 196. On Wednesday he returned a career low 11 under 61 to follow an opening 70.
Delhi’s Rashid Khan (66-67-65), playing with the leader remained second at 18 under 198, keeping the pressure on Cheema through the day with eight birdies against one bogey, the DP World PGTI said.
Cheema’s eventful round featured an eagle on the par-five 16th, eight birdies and three bogeys. With Rashid nipping at his heels, the lanky Chandigarh golfer responded well to preserve his overnight advantage.
“It was definitely an up-and-down day, especially on the back nine, but overall I played really well,” said Cheema.
“Rashid was making a lot of birdies, so it was important for me to keep pace with him, and I thought I did that very well.”
Throwing darts
The leader made four birdies over the front-nine. He then added four more and the crucial eagle on 16 — his 6 iron landing five feet from the pin — for a three-shot swing but also conceded three bogeys on the back nine.
“I hit three really good shots to make the eagle,” he said. “I drove it well and then hit a six-iron to about five feet. Apparently, the ball came within an inch of going in, and I converted the putt.”
Despite two three-putts on the back nine, Cheema was encouraged by his work on the greens and the overall state of his game heading into the final round.
“My putting was very good overall, apart from the two three-putts, which are never enjoyable,” he said. “My game is in great shape, and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
Jairaj Singh Sandhu (71-68-63) made the day’s big move with his 9 under round to climb 17 places to solo third on 14 under 202, six shots behind Cheema.
Delhi’s Honey Baisoya (72-65-66), seventh in the DP World PGTI Rankings, shared fourth place on 13 under 203 with Greater Noida’s Arjun Sharma (70-66-67).
Packed standings
Day 1 co-leader Akshay Sharma (65-70-69) of Chandigarh was tied for sixth at 12 under 204 alongside 2024 Order of Merit champion Veer Ahlawat (68-68-68).
Fellow leader Manu Gandas (65-71-69), also a past rankings topper, was tied for eighth on 11 under 205 with Nepal’s Subash Tamang (74-65-66), Uganda’s Joshua Seale (70-66-69) and Dhruv Sheoran (68-67-70).
Cheema, a four-time winner on the Tour, has come close to adding another title twice this season. He finished tied second at the Boulders Classic in April and again at last week’s Kolar Open.
The Chandigarh golfer intends to keep an unchanged approach into the final 18 holes.
“I’ll treat tomorrow as just another round of golf,” Cheema said.
“I’m playing well, so I want to continue doing what I’ve been doing, focus on my own game and not get too far ahead of myself.”
He also welcomed the introduction of the Race to DP World India Championship, which offers leading players on the Order of Merit an opportunity to qualify for the marquee event.
“It is a great initiative and a big incentive for all the players,” he said.
Big incentive
“The chance to compete in the DP World India Championship alongside some of the biggest names in golf would be a huge achievement.
“It has added a lot of excitement because everyone is checking the Order of Merit each week to see whether they are inside the qualifying positions. It gives us something significant to play for throughout the season.”
Current rankings leader Saptak Talwar (72-68-71) was tied 29th at 5 under 211.
The Race to DP World India Championship is a competition to crown the DP World PGTI’s number one player.
The season-long competition will also determine the top-24 players on the Order of Merit who will earn starting places at the season-ending DP World India Championship.
Also read: Cheema goes 11-under to wrest day 2 edge at Telangana Open
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