Mane makes it back-to-back titles with solid final round at Hyderabad

By Rahul Banerji

Udayan Mane made it two from two with a clinical effort in the final round of the Golconda Masters at the Hyderabad Golf Club on Saturday to follow up on his season-closing win at the Tour Championship in Jamshedpur last December.

Mane, who ended the week on 17-under-267, bagged his ninth professional title by a two-shot margin at the season-opening Rs. 40 lakh event, presented by Vooty and Haldi.

On Saturday, he brought home a 4-under card of 67 after holding a five-shot lead midway through the day. It was also the 28-year-old’s second win at the Golconda Masters in three years.

Viraj Madappa of Bangalore played a late hand with a stunning 9-under-62, the week’s best card, to take second place on 15-under-269 alongside Patna’s Aman Raj who fired a last round of 5-under-66.

Mane (68-67-65-67), one off the lead after round three, was off to a steady start on Saturday with pars on the first five holes. Overnight leader Veer Ahlawat of Gurgaon fell away early with two dropped in his first five holes to hand Mane the lead.

Pulling away

The Pune golfer, a two-time winner last year, began to pull away from the field with a birdie and an eagle before making the turn. The strapping Mane then produced a couple of accurate tee shots pick up a further two birdies and build a commanding lead with seven holes to play.

Mane’s only bogey of the day came on the 13^th as a result of a three-putt. However, he held on to his lead with pars on the last five holes despite late runs by Madappa and Aman Raj.

Udayan said, “Back-to-back wins are always special and it feels awesome to have achieved it. I would love to take this form forward into the next events. It’s also good to win at the HGC for the second time. It’s turning out to be my happy hunting ground.

“The first five holes are a tough stretch but I was looking for a couple of birdies there in order to start well.

“However, the momentum came after the fifth as I struck my approaches well on the first two par-5s. I then had a healthy five-shot lead going into the back-nine but didn’t take the lead for granted.

‘Big swing’

“Thereafter, I knew that I had to keep it in play and make pars. However, I did miss a few short birdie putts on the back-nine where I played level-par. But I guess the big swing in my favour from the sixth to the 11^th was enough to get the job done.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season,” added Mane, 28, who took home a cheque worth Rs. 6,46,600.

Mane also became the seventh player to win back-to-back titles on the PGTI after Ashok Kumar, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Shamim Khan, Anirban Lahiri, Mithun Perera and Honey Baisoya.

Baisoya was the last player to do so on the PGTI when he bagged the Pune Open and Delhi-NCR Open in April 2018.

Madappa (69-68-70-62), lying tied 10^th and eight shots off the lead ahead of the final round, had a quiet first eight holes with two birdies and a bogey. Asian Tour regular Viraj then went on a rampage with eight birdies between the ninth and the 18^th courtesy a hot putter.

On fire

The 22-year-old had an incredible run of birdies over the last five holes that included a 25-foot birdie putt and 15-foot conversions on four other holes.

Viraj, who missed Gaurav Pratap Singh’s 2019 course record of 61, said, “It was a tale of contrasting 9s for me.

“I missed a lot of opportunities on the front nine today. I then more than made by putting myself in good positions and sinking almost every putt. Making 10 birdies in a round is always special. I’ll draw a lot of confidence from this performance.”

Round three leader Ahlawat fell to fourth on 13-under-271 after his final round of 72.

Delhi’s Rashid Khan, the 2019 PGTI Order of Merit champion, took a share of seventh place on 9-under-275 while Bangalore’s Khalin Joshi was a further shot back in tied 10^th place.

Gurgaon’s Abhishek Kuhar made a hole-in-one on the 11^th during his round of 72. He finished tied 40^th on 5-over-289.

Hyderabad-based professional Venkkat Gautham, who carded a last round of 75, also finished tied 40^th.

Also read: Udayan Mane wins Tour C’ship with PGTI record, Kaul is emerging player