By Rahul Banerji
Yuvraj Singh Sandhu returned a phenomenal 9-under 61, to grab a three-shot lead after round three of the Tata Steel PGTI Players Championship at Kolkata’s Tollygunge Club on Thursday.
It was the week’s best score and gave the Chandigarh-based Sandhu a three-day aggregate of on 17-under 193, the PGTI said.
Sandhu (67-65-61), sixth on the PGTI merit list last year that also fetched his maiden win and 11 other top-10s, went error-free on Thursday to climb from overnight tied fourth into pole position.
Sandhu was one short of Kolkata golfer Indrajit Bhalotia’s course record of 60 set at the Warren Open in 1998.
Playing at his home course, Viraj Madappa (64-70-62) shot an equally impressive 62 that featured an eagle-two on the 15th to rise nine places to tied second on14-under 196.
Shamim Khan (66-65-65) and Ajeetesh Sandhu (63-68-65) signed cards of 65 to continue in tied second place for the second day in a row.
Round two leader Rahil Gangjee had a 67 to hold fifth place on 13-under 197.
Low scores
On a day that saw some low scores, Honey Baisoya also had a 62 to climb 23 spots to seventh on 10-under 200.
Sri Lanka’s Vijitha Bandara fired a hole-in-one during his round of 70 to be placed tied 10th on 8-under 202 alongside S,S,P, Chawrasia (66).
Indian golf legend Jeev Milkha Singh struck a 71 for tied 16th on 6-under 204.
Sandhu found himself in a spot of bother in the hazard on the third but made a perfect high fade wedge shot from 130 yards out that landed within 10 feet of the hole for his first birdie of the day.
Sandhu picked up his fourth birdie on the eighth with a 40-foot conversion from a tough position on the green which gave his round another boost.
The 25-year-old then went on to add five more birdies including a tap-in on 14 where he almost holed out his approach shot.
He also made an exceptional par-save with an up and down on 16 after being unsettled by the wind.
Yuvraj said later, “The shot that set up a great recovery and birdie on the third was the kind of moment that told me that it could be a green light day for me so I just need to push ahead.
Error-free
“I kept the errors out today as I didn’t go for every flag. I respected the flags where it was necessary to do so.
“When I saw the leader board and realised I was leading, I have been in this position before so all I needed to do was just have fun and try and extend my lead.
“Could’ve dropped a few shots but the putter came to my rescue on those occasions. It’s now about taking it one shot at a time in the final round.”
Madappa, who had two early bogeys, fought back with an eagle and eight birdies from the fifth onwards.
The Kolkata golfer had an eagle-two on the par-4 15th where he drove the green and sank an 18-footer. Viraj also landed it within three feet on five occasions.
Madappa, an Asian Tour winner, said, “After a bad finish with a late triple-bogey in round two, I knew I had to shoot low to stay in the mix.
“I looked to score on the front-nine today as I was aware that the greens on the back nine are more gettable. I landed it in good spots and played my wedges well into the greens.
“It was good fun with so many kids following me today. They were quite loud and often came and had a word with me.
“I’m expecting the same kind of support in the final round.”
Also read: Ex-Kolkatan Rahil Gangjee edges ahead at Players C’ship
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