Sunit Chowrasia edges ahead of Players field in tough conditions

By Rahul Banerji

Genes showed on day three of the PGTI Players Championship with Sunit Chowrasia, nephew of two-time Indian Open winner S.S.P. Chawrasia holding his nerve on a cold and blustery day to edge ahead of the field with a 2-under par 70 going into the final day at the Classic Golf & Country Club near Gurgaon on Thursday.

The 24-year-old Kolkata-based Sunit holds a one-shot advantage on 11-under-205, and his hard work on the day coincided with S.S.P.’s hot start at the ISPS Handa World Super 6 Perth where he shot an opening round of 4-under-68 to be tied fifth.

Udayan Mane kept himself in the hunt with a 71 to sit in second place while tournament headliner Shubhankar Sharma (69) was in hot pursuit, two behind the lead in tied third alongside two 22-year-olds from Gurgaon, Veer Ahlawat (67) and Manu Gandas (70). Ahlawat had the day’s best score of 5-under-67.

Determined display

Sunit Chowrasia (68-67-70), tied second and one behind the lead overnight, fought his way to the top with a determined display on a windy day. Sunit, who recorded a solid 44^th place finish on the PGTI Order of Merit during his rookie season last year, hit some early jitters, including a three-putt, but tightened his game thereafter.

Sunit, among India’s leading amateurs till 2017, displayed some exceptional approach work to hit two quick birdies and move to one-under for the day. With his confidence growing, Chowrasia’s terrific drive almost found the green before he two-putted for another birdie on a par-4 on his way back to the clubhouse.

Sunit, leading a PGTI event going into the final round for the first time, said, “The conditions weren’t easy so I’m delighted to have shot a steady two-under. I missed a few short putts today but more than made up with some outstanding approach shots and solid wedge-play.

“I’m in good rhythm at the moment and will look to be as consistent in round four as I was today. I repeatedly found the centre of the fairway today and will try to replicate that in the final round. I’ll be speaking to my uncle this evening and definitely expect to get some sound advice from him.”

Shubhankar on the move

Ahmedabad-based Mane (71-64-71), overnight tied second, had two birdies and a bogey during his solid 71 while pre-tournament favourite Shubhankar Sharma (70-68-69) moved into contention, rising five places to shared third on 9-under-207.

Shubhankar’s third round of 69 featured a late flourish as he made a hat-trick of birdies from the 14^th through the 16^th holes.

Overnight leader Akshay Sharma of Chandigarh slipped to tied sixth at 8-under-208 after a 2-over par round of 74 alomgside Delhi-based teenager Kshitij Naveed Kaul (70) and Bengaluru’s M. Dharma (71), who was joint runner-up in Hyderabad last week.

Gaurika takes a three-shot lead into final day

In Ahmedabad, Gaurika Bishnoi displayed consistency and poise to card a second successive under par round and take a three-shot lead into the final round of the fourth leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour at the Kalhaar Blues & Greens on Thursday.

Gaurika, yet to chalk up a win this season, added a second straight 71 to move to two-under 142, three shots ahead of Ridhima Dilawari who went one-over 73 in the second round for a total of 145.

Amandeep Drall bounced back from her first round 76 with the day’s best card of two-under 70 that included a run of four birdies in five holes between the 13th and 17th holes while Neha Tripathi had an up and down round to be fourth on 148.

Steady display

Gaurika, who won just once despite often being in contention last season, had three birdies on the front nine but also gave back the gains with three bogeys. On the back nine, she was steadier with one bogey against two further birdies.

Ridhima looked set for a low round as she turned in one-under with two birdies and one bogey. She added two more birdies be three under at that stage but an unfortunate double bogey halted her momentum and she dropped two further shots to card a 73.

Though Gaurika holds a three-shot lead, the final round could see a close tussle between her, Ridhima and Amandeep.

Suchitra Ramesh (73) and Siddhi Kapoor (75) were tied fifth on 151. Gursimar Badwal (75) and Smriti Mehra (79) were seventh and eighth while Afshan Fatima (75) and Ananya Datar (77) completed the top 10.

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