By Rahul Banerji
Delhi golfer Sachin Baisoya who has led from day one, broke away from the field to open a two-shot lead going into the final day of the Tata Steel PGTI Players Championship in Kolkata on Thursday.
Baisoya carded a five under par 65 at the Rs 1 crore event, presented by Tollygunge Club to total 15 under 195 in the opening event of the season, the PGTI said.
Overnight joint leader Harsh Gangwar also of Delhi, stayed in the hunt with a 67. Harsh, playing his second season as a professional and yet to win a title, closed the round in second place at 13-under 197.
US-based rookie Varun Chopra, playing his first event as a pro after coming through last week’s Qualifying School, was third on 12-under 198 following his round of 65 on Thursday.
Baisoya (64-66-65), who is still looking for his maiden PGTI win, sank a 25-foot birdie on the first hole. The 27-year-old picked up three more shots till the 10th.
A bogey after his fourth birdie did nothing to derail Baisoya’s momentum as he quickly regrouped with a chip-in birdie on 14 followed by a 20-foot birdie putt on 16.
The National Games bronze medallist from last year closed out the round with two good par saves.
Baisoya said, “My confidence soared after a great tee shot and a long conversion resulted in a birdie on the first hole.
Good rhythm
“I was in good rhythm on the front nine. On the back nine, the chip-in on 14 got me going. I then made some terrific par saves from tough positions that helped me close the round on a positive note.
“The aim in round four will be to play steady, not miss pars anywhere and take birdie opportunities wherever possible.
“I’ll be keeping a close watch on the leaderboard.”
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Gangwar (66-64-67) was four-under through the front nine after making an eagle, three birdies and a bogey.
The 25-year-old chipped-in from the bunker for birdie on the fifth and drained a 25-footer for eagle on the seventh.
However, after a double-bogey on 10, the birdies dried up for Gangwar as his ball-striking was not as accurate. Harsh could only pick up a stroke on 15.
Gangwar said, “I was going well on the front nine but I didn’t hit it close enough on the back nine which affected my scoring.
“I’ll now focus on getting my ball-striking in order so that I can create more opportunities on the final day.”
Chandigarh’s Angad Cheema (67) and Patna’s Aman Raj (68) kept themselves in contention in tied fourth place on 11-under 199.
Defending champion Yuvraj Singh Sandhu (67) moved into tied 25th on four-under 206.
Kolkata’s Sandeep Yadav (68), the lone amateur to make the cut, was a further shot back in tied 31st place.
Raju Ali Mollah (69), the only Kolkata-based professional to make the cut, was tied 35th at two-under 208 along with Udayan Mane (72).
Also read: Baisoya, Harsh Gangwar share lead at Players Championship
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