By Rahul Banerji
A consistent display by Jairaj Singh Sandhu was rewarded with the Haryana Open title clinched in a playoff at the Panchkula Golf Club on Saturday.
Chandigarh’s Sandhu, who won his maiden PGTI title, got the better of the hard-charging Honey Baisoya in the Rs 1 crore event after the two had finished level on 18 under 272 over 72 holes.
Sandhu (66-69-68-67), who led on the first two days before slipping to second on Friday, produced a flawless 5-under 67 on Saturday while Baisoya (68-70-66-66) fired the day’s best of 66 to tie scores.
The two then headed to the playoff which the lanky Sandhu clinched with a birdie to pick up a Rs 15 lakh cheque that lifted him from 44th to 13th in the Tata Steel PGTI Ranking.
Sandhu is the fifth first-time winner on the PGTI this season after Sachin Baisoya, Karan Pratap Singh, Sunhit Bishnoi and Harshjeet Singh Sethie.
Round three leader Akshay Sharma, another Chandigarh-based professional, took third place on 16-under 272 following a closing 7, the PGTI said.
Other Tricity golfers finishing in the top 10 were Yuvraj Singh Sandhu in tied fourth at 15-under 273 and Angad Cheema in tied sixth at 12-under 276.
Bright start
Jairaj, two shots off the lead at the start of round four, made an early birdie and followed that up with a couple of long conversions and a good up and down to add three more birdies on the front nine.
The 26-year-old then made another quality up and down for one last birdie of the day on hole 15.
Baisoya of the DLF Golf & Country Club, who was tied third and three off the lead made a charge on the front nine on Saturday with five birdies.
Honey then dropped a double bogey on 11 but bounced back with an eagle on 12 and birdies on 16 and 17.
On the verge of a win, the Gurgaon golfer made a three-putt for bogey on 18. With Sandhu’s closing par, the match went into a playoff.
On the playoff 18th hole, Sandhu closed out the match with another steady par making a two-putt from 25 feet even as Honey made a second consecutive three-putt.
Ticking boxes
Said the winner later, “This week I achieved all three goals that I had set for myself this season. I played in the leader group, shot a bogey-free round and won my first title.
“I hung in there through the week, was in the top two positions from round one to four and maintained consistency in my game.
“There was a sense of relief after sinking the winning putt. Even while going into the playoff, I believed I could do it and backed my ability. I just played my normal game as I knew I was playing well. I took it one shot at a time and focused on my routine.
“It feels amazing to win in the presence of my family and friends here at Panchkula Golf Club which is like a second home course.
“It’s an overwhelming feeling and can’t be described. I would like to thank my coach Jesse Grewal with whom I’ve been working very hard in the range and my fitness trainer, physio, my parents and friends for their support.”
Abhishek Kumar of Panchkula won the trophy for the top amateur. He was one of two amateurs to make the cut and finished in 51st place on 8-over 296.
Final top five
270: Jairaj Singh Sandhu (66-69-68-67) won in playoff; Honey Baisoya (68-70-66-66)
272: Akshay Sharma (68-68-65-71)
273: Yuvraj Singh Sandhu (71-68-67-67); Sachin Baisoya (68-69-68-68)
Also read: Akshay Sharma shoots week’s best for Haryana Open lead
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