By Rahul Banerji
Chile’s Matias Dominguez fired a sensational second round 12-under 59 in Pre-Qualifying III of the Tata Steel PGTI Q School at Golmuri Golf Course in Jamshedpur.
The 31-year-old won Pre-Q III by a handsome six-stroke margin with a 15-under 127 (68-59) total as a result of his efforts on Saturday, the PGTI said.
Interestingly, Dominguez’s feat was matched by a countryman half a world away and achieved a few hours earlier.
Joaquim Niemann also shot a 59 on the opening day of the LIV Golf League’s 2024 season in Mexico on Friday, his 12 under score a new record for the El Camaleon course in Mayakoba, Mexico.
In Jamshedpur, meanwhile, even though preferred lies were in play, Dominguez replicated Niemann’s card in his own 59 that featured an eagle and 10 birdies.
For the PGTI, it was a landmark moment as the Chilean’s score turned out to be the lowest number ever recorded on the tour.
Equal best
The only prior instance of a 12-under card on the PGTI is Anirban Lahiri’s 12-under 60 at the BILT Open in 2011 on the Jaypee Greens course in Greater Noida.
From a total field of 132 in Pre-Qualifying III, the top 30 advanced to the Final Qualifying Stage as the cut was declared at 1-over 143.
Santiago-based Dominguez, tied fifth and two shots off the lead after round one, holed his bunker shot for a birdie on the third hole to set the ball rolling on Saturday.
Dominguez, who has been a regular on the PGA Tour Latinoamerica in recent times, accumulated birdies on the next three holes to make it four in a row thanks to outstanding tee shots.
Making his first trip to India, Dominguez gained further momentum with his chip-in from 15 yards for eagle on the par-5 ninth. He had a stroke of luck on the ninth as his tee shot found the trees but rebounded back on the fairway.
Six-under at the turn, a combination of excellent tee shots, approach shots and wedge-play saw Dominguez add six more birdies to his card on the back nine as he breached the 60 mark.
“I’ve been playing well so I just told myself to keep it simple today and look to create as many birdie chances as possible,” the Chilean said later.
Early push
“My first birdie when I holed it from the bunker really kickstarted my round as it gave me a lot of confidence. I would say the birdie on the third was the highlight of my round.
“I realised I was quite well-placed after being six-under at the turn because I knew the back nine provided many more scoring opportunities that could help me go really low.
“It’s great to know that this is a record score on the PGTI. It gives me the momentum going into the Final Stage.
“I would like to thank my friends and fellow professionals Matias Calderon, also from Chile and Italian Federico Zucchetti for advising me to play here,” he added.
Czechia’s Stepan Danek (67-66) took the runner-up spot on 9-under 133 with a second-round 5-under 66.
Nepal’s Niraj Tamang (68-66) too fired a last round of 66 to finish third on 8-under 134.
Ace and out
Amateur Rachit Mankoti made a hole-in-one during his round of 73. However, he missed the cut for the Final Stage as he totaled 4-over 146.
In all, 71 players have now made it out of the Pre-Qualifying Stage. They will join another 54 players in the Final Stage where the total field will consist of 125 players.
The Final Stage will be held from February 6 to 9 also at Golmuri.
On Thursday, Pune’s Aditya Bhandarkar had a 66 to take the opening round honours. He would finish 12th after the second round.
Returning to competitive golf after a year, Bhandarkar fired seven birdies against two dropped shots on day one and would say later, “I had some nerves at the start as I was playing my first competitive round after one year.
“I just told myself to make good contact on the first tee shot as that would help settle the nerves. I managed to do that and the pressure disappeared by the third hole.”
Also read: US golfer McLendon on top as 19 enter Q School Final Stage
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