By Rahul Banerji
Yuvraj Singh Sandhu came from behind with a sensational eight-under-par 64 to retain his IndianOil Servo Masters title with a two-shot triumph at Digboi on Saturday.
Yuvraj, who had also won his maiden PGTI title in Digboi last year, totaled 17-under 271 for the week to match Ashok Kumar’s record of five wins in a PGTI season set in the tour’s inaugural 2007-07 season.
Chandigarh’s Sandhu (63-70-74-64) now has eight professional titles to his name including six on the PGTI’s main tour.
His winning cheque worth Rs. 11,25,000 took his earnings for the season to Rs. 62,39,768 and extended his lead in the PGTI Order of Merit to over Rs. 11 lakh over second-placed Manu Gandas who has four title wins this season.
Arjun Sharma (66-68-70-69) of Greater Noida, overnight leader by one shot, secured his second runner-up finish of the season with a final round of 69 to total 15-under 273 for the week.
As a result, Arjun climbed from 28th to 19th place in PGTI’s money list, the tour said.
Yashas Chandra M.S. of Mysore shot a 66 to share third place on 13-under 275 along with Sri Lanka’s N. Thangaraja (67).
Pune’s Udayan Mane took fifth place on 12-under 276.
Flawless display
Sandhu, leader for the first two rounds before slipping to tied fourth and three shots off the lead after round three, came out firing on all cylinders with a flawless 64 on Saturday.
The 25-year-old’s round featured four birdies each on the front nine and back nine.
Yuvraj’s ball striking, the best aspect of his game through the week, stood out for him once again in round four.
Sandhu found the edges of a couple of par-4 greens off the tee and a couple of par-5 greens with his approach shots to set up chip-putt birdies there.
Sandhu also sank a 15-footer on 13 and was two-on on the par-5 15th making birdies on both occasions.
Yuvraj said, “I generally don’t start an event well but with a 63 here I told myself, if I can do it on day one, I can certainly do it on day four.
“The thought that inspired me at the start today was that I began my golf in Assam so I have a special connection with this place and therefore I have to do well here.
“I thank my family and my entire team consisting of my coach, trainer and physio who have always believed in me.
“My father sent me a long text in the morning today which also encouraged me and egged me on to play well.
“Ball-striking was the best part of my game this week. The objective at the start was to find maximum greens as the greens are generally small here. I managed to execute that plan well.
Cold start
“I started cold but after the front nine saw an opportunity. Last year I played the hottest back nine of my career on the final day here. I was running that performance through my mind on the back nine. That helped my cause.
“I’m pleased to be leading the PGTI Order of Merit at this stage and look forward to maintaining my position with just three events to go in the season now.”
Arjun Sharma mixed five birdies with two bogeys in his run to second place.
Yashas Chandra, who came up with the day’s best 66, sank an eagle and four birdies in an error-free round that lifted him nine spots from overnight tied 12th.
Thangaraja made seven birdies and two bogeys during his final round of 67.
Gurgaon’s Manu Gandas ended tied 29th on three-under 285. He stays second in the PGTI rankings.
Dulal Kalowar, the only local professional to make the cut, closed the week in 58th place at 10-over 298.
Also read: Servo Masters lead changes hands as steady Sharma cashes in
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