Sachin Baisoya (centre) receives the Indorama Ventures Open trophy from company vice-president Samir H. Rawal at the Kalhaar course in Ahmedabad on Saturday. Also seen are golf promoter Farzan Heerjee (second from right), Navratna Group MD Devang Shah and Tour CEO Amandeep Johl. Image courtesy PGTI.
By Rahul Banerji
Sachin Baisoya scored a stunning come-from-behind victory over Udayan Mane in a playoff at the Indorama Ventures Open in Ahmedabad on Saturday.
The Delhi golfer, who began the final day seven shots behind overnight leader Mane in tied fifth place, posted the day’s best score of 4 under par 68 to lift the trophy at the inaugural Rs 2 crore event, the PGTI said.
Baisoya (68-71-70-68), who had decided not to play this week due to his father’s health before being persuaded by the latter to tee it up at the Kalhaar Blues and Greens Golf Club, tied Mane (69-65-68-75) on 11 under 277 at the end of the regulation 72 holes.
Mane, the overnight leader by two shots, had a closing round of 75 after he dropped five strokes on the last six holes including two double bogeys to open the door for the chasing pack that included Khalin Joshi.
Baisoya fared better in negotiating the tricky pin position on the par-4 18th hole thar was used for the playoff as he made par with a two-putt even as Udayan conceded a fatal bogey.
It was a second win in as many playoffs for Baisoya, who picked up Rs 30 lakh for his fourth professional victory.
The cheque catapulted the Delhi Golf Club-based Baisoya from 11th to second place on the PGTI Order of Merit and his earnings for the season now total Rs 44,65,650.
Bangalore’s Joshi, second overnight, returned a 74 on Saturday to finish third on 10 under 278.
Faridabad’s Abhinav Lohan struck a fourth round of 72 to seal fourth place on 9 under 279 after briefly sharing the lead with Mane on the back nine. However, a bogey and a double put paid to his chances.
Ahmedabad’s Varun Parikh (69) and Ajeetesh Sandhu (71) of Chandigarh were tied for fifth on 8 under 280.
Steady climb
Baisoya climbed steadily up the leaderboard on Saturday, picking up three birdies against a bogey on the front nine, two of his gains coming from long conversions.
An exceptional approach on hole 10 and a massive 35-foot conversion on 11 helped Baisoya pick up two more shots and track down the leading group. He finally capitalised on the greens with two well-read putts on the playoff hole that sealed victory.
“I was playing well from the very start today,” Baisoya said later, “ and was quite confident going into the playoff.
“With today’s pin position on the 18 where the slope came into play, I told myself not to make any mistake during the playoff and look for a par.
“Losing after making a par was something I wouldn’t mind. But there was no scope to be overly aggressive and drop a shot in the process.
“Earlier in the day, the three consecutive birdies on the front nine gave me a lot of confidence and so did my par save on 17 where I had no stance during my second shot from the bunker.
“I had decided to take a break this week after missing cuts in four of the last five events.
Late decision
“Then my father fell ill and travelling to Ahmedabad seemed even more unlikely for me. However, my father convinced me to play in Ahmedabad saying he would be alright.
“My confidence was down over the last few weeks but my uncle and former professional Vinod Kumar helped me a lot by correcting a few things as far as my hitting was concerned.
“I also received valuable tips from my mentor and fellow professional Manav Jaini. As a result, my hitting improved drastically this week.”
Mane, 34 and a winner of 12 titles besides being a former PGTI Order of Merit champion, was well on course to victory after making three birdies and a bogey over the first 12 holes.
However, in a dramatic late twist, he conceded two double bogeys and a bogey over the last six holes, which took the match into a playoff.
Also read: Mane builds on his lead with a resolute display at windy Kalhaar
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