Manu Gandas holds sole lead at Nissan Delhi-NCR Open

Past winner of the Delhi-NCR Open Manu Gandas in action at the Noida Golf Course on Friday. Image courtesy PGTI.

By Rahul Banerji 

Manu Gandas shot the day’s best of 6-under 66 to grab the sole lead on 13-under 203 after round three of the Rs 1 crore Nissan Delhi-NCR Open at the Noida Golf Course on Friday.

Gurgaon-based Gandas (68-69-66), winner of the 2022 edition, kept a clean card to move up three places from overnight fourth, the PGTI said.

Mysore golfer Yashas Chandra M.S. (71-64-69), one of the three overnight leaders, had a 69 to sit in second place on 12-under 204.

Veer Ahlawat (70) and Angad Cheema (71), the other two joint overnight leaders, closed the penultimate day in third on 11-under 205 and fourth on 10-under 206 respectively.

Noida’s Vikrant Chopra was tied 12^th on 4-under 212 as the best-placed among the local professionals while defending champion Gaurav Pratap Singh of the NGC was a further stroke back in tied 15^th.

Consistent day

Gandas, the 2022 Tata Steel PGTI Ranking champion, who started the day two shots behind the leaders, hit most fairways and greens in a consistent round.

The 28-year-old’s iron play and chipping helped him land within five feet of the pin on four occasions for birdies.

The eight-time PGTI winner also did well to salvage pars on holes 16 and 17 with a 25-foot putt and a terrific chip.

Currently third on the PGTI’s money list with a win already under his belt this season, Gandas said, later, “I’ve won here at NGC a couple of times, once as an amateur and once as a professional.

“So, I’m quite familiar with the course and that gives me confidence going into the final round. I have my game plan in place and will look to stick to that.

“Shooting a bogey-free round ahead of the final day always helps. Importantly, I’ve kept the errors out this week having given away just one bogey and a double-bogey each in three rounds.

“Those par saves towards the end of the round today were crucial as they kept me ahead. I’m happy that I was able to recover well from a few tough situations.”

Chandra, searching for his maiden title, kept in touch with the lead as a result of his 69 that featured an eagle on 14, four birdies and three bogeys.

His outstanding hitting ensured he played five-under on the four par-5s for the second day in succession making an eagle and three birdies on those four holes. 

Round 3 leaders

203: Manu Gandas (68-69-66)

204: Yashas Chandra M.S. (71-64-69)

205: Veer Ahlawat (68-67-70)

206: Angad Cheema (68-67-71)

Also read: Chandra hits day’s best to move into a three-way tie for lead