Sandhu takes six-shot lead into final round of Servo Masters

Chandigarh’s Yuvraj Sandhu continued his run of red-hot form at the IndianOil Servo Masters in Digboi, Assam, on Thursday and will take a six-shot lead into the final day. Image courtesy PGTI.

By Rahul Banerji

Yuvraj Sandhu turned in a dominant display to open a six-shot lead going into Friday’s final round of the IndianOil Servo Masters in Digboi, Assam.

On Thursday, the rankings leader fired a brilliant bogey-free 6 under par 66 to total 16 under 200 for the Rs 1 crore event at Digboi Golf Links to put space between himself and the pack, the PGTI said.

Sandhu (65-69-66), who led by two strokes after rounds one and two, expanded his lead by another four shots on Moving Day to close in on his third win in Digboi and a fifth title of the season.

Chasing the event leader from Chandigarh on the final day will be Viraj Madappa (70-68-68), who is playing in Digboi for the first time and is currently second at 10 under 206. 

The 28-year-old Madappa’s third round of 68 lifted him one place from his overnight spot, while Sri Lanka’s N. Thangaraja (67) and Veer Ahlawat (69) shared third place on 9 under 207.

Deven Bhumij of Digboi, the only local professional to make the cut, was tied for 42^nd at 4 over 220 with a third round of 73.

Sandhu, who has led from day one, made a red-hot start on Thursday with five birdies on the first seven holes where he drained three putts from a range of six to 10 feet. 

His final gain for the day came eight holes later, on the Par 5 15^th.

Yuvraj, who has already crossed the Rs 1 crore mark in earnings for the season, said, “I hit 17 greens in regulation for the second day in succession so my ball-striking continues to be solid. 

Hot putter

“The putter also did its job. However, I missed a few four-footers for birdie on the back-nine that slowed down my progress a bit.

“I hold the record for the lowest winning total in Digboi which is 23-under and would love to break that record this week but I need more putts to fall in the final round to achieve that number. 

“The fact that I had a birdie opportunity on virtually every hole today and did not concede a single bogey also adds to my self-belief going into the final round,” added Sandhu, who was runner-up at the last two PGTI events, both in playoffs.

Madappa, a PGTI winner earlier this year, has managed to make a mark in his first appearance at Digboi on his first-ever trip to Assam. 

The Kolkata golfer’s round featured a chip-in for eagle on 11, another exceptional chip that left him a tap-in birdie on 14, two more birdies and a bogey.

Saptak Talwar (72), who was second at the halfway stage, dropped to tied fifth on 8 under 208 alongside Shivendra Singh Sisodia (70).

Defending champion Jamal Hossain (70) of Bangladesh ended the day in a tie for eighth on 5 under 211.

Also read:  Sandhu retains his lead after day two of Servo Masters at Digboi