By Rahul Banerji
Yuvraj Singh Sandhu won his fourth title of the ongoing season and his seventh overall by a one-shot margin at the Tata Steel PGTI Players Championship in Panchkula on Friday.
The Chandigarh golfer brought in a four-under-par 68 on the day in the event presented by American Express and hosted by the Haryana government at Panchkula Golf Club.
Yuvraj was consistent with rounds of 68-68-65-68 (19-under 269) and took home a cheque worth Rs. 7.5 lakh, He also moved from third to second place in the PGTI Order of Merit.
Fellow Chandigarh golfer Ajeetesh Sandhu (70-68-67-65) maintained his lead in the money list with a 65 to finish joint runner-up on 18-under 270 with Bangladesh’s Jamal Hossain (65-68-71-66).
Sri Lanka’s N. Thangaraja (68) finished fourth on 16-under 272 while overnight leader Badal Hossain (73) of Bangladesh finished fifth on 15-under 273.
Yuvraj Sandhu started the day in second place one shot off the lead and was steady with two birdies and seven pars till the turn that helped him take the lead.
Upping the ante
The 25-year-old picked up the pace with a further two birdies before dropping a shot even as Ajeetesh made a charge to move in within one shot of the lead after 14 holes.
Yuvraj reserved his best for the last with a tough downhill 10-foot birdie conversion and a couple of tricky chip-putts for par on the final two holes to close out the match after Ajeetesh had mounted pressure with another late birdie.
Yuvraj converted putts from 10 to 15 feet on the last two holes and got out of trouble on 18 with a good chip from the bunker wall where he had a tough lie.
He has now triumphed twice in the Tricity in 2022 having won events in both Chandigarh and Panchkula.
The win also helped close the gap on Ajeetesh, as the latter now leads the money list by a margin of less than Rs. 2 lakh.
“It feels amazing to win in the Tricity which is my home,” Yuvraj said.
“I was consistent through the week and that was the only way to brave your way to the top on this course, and I am glad my strategy worked.
Stressful ending
“Today it was stressful, especially on the back nine. I felt I was literally under the gun over the last four holes. After the bogey on 13, I still had a two-shot lead.
“I knew that I need to put it on the fairway off the tee and did just that. Got a few wrong slopes on 17 and 18 but somehow just managed to make it.
“I’ve just been trying to maintain the same temperament and attitude from hole 1 till the end. That is something I worked on mentally. I feel there is much more to come from.”
Tied for fifth overnight five shots back, Ajeetesh forced himself into contention with an excellent bogey-free 65 before falling just short.
Jamal Hossain’s error-free 66 which also featured an eagle on 12 helped him gain one spot and finish tied second along with Ajeetesh.
Khalin Joshi finished sixth on 14-under 274, Manu Gandas was T8 on 11-under 277, and three-time PGTI Order of Merit winner Rashid Khan T10 on 10-under 278.
Also read: Badal Hossain, Yuvraj Sandhu in battle for Panchkula top spot
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