By Rahul Banerji
Yuvraj Singh Sandhu of Chandigarh recorded a resounding seven-shot win at the Rs. 40 lakh J&K Open 2022 presented by J&K Tourism at the Jammu Tawi Golf Course on Saturday.
Leading by four shots overnight, Sandhu (69-70-65-71) returned a steady one-under 71 to total 13-under 275 for the tournament and claim his fourth career win and third title this season.
He also consolidated second place on the PGTI Order of Merit with his Rs 6 lakh winner’s cheque,
Bangalore’s Khalin Joshi (70-68-70-74) finished second on six-under 282 after a 74 in round four.
Gurgaon’s Manu Gandas (67) took third place on three-under 285.
Chandimandir’s Ravi Kumar shot the day’s best score of 66 to take 11th place on two-over 290.
Delhi’s Rashid Khan was tied 21st on six-over 294, 2021 champion Honey Baisoya T25 on seven-over 295 and Olympian Udayan Mane tied 28th on eight-over 296.
Sandhu, who shot the tournament best of 65 in round three, continued his domination on Saturday at PGTI’s first event at the Jammu Tawi Golf Course.
He made two birdies and two bogeys on the outbound nine but still managed to stretch his lead to five shots as Joshi was one-over at the turn.
Yuvraj birdied both par-5s, first and eighth, on the front nine.
Big cushion
On the back nine, Sandhu pushed on with two birdies and a saved par despite a penalty on 12.
He dropped a shot thereafter but still reached the line with a mammoth seven-shot cushion as Joshi was one over on the back nine.
“I was a little nervous coming into this week because I had played well of late but did not score well at the Asian Development Tour events in Indonesia. So I felt I just needed a little reassurance,” Sandhu said later.
“My father gave me a surprise this morning by arriving in Jammu. When I saw him at the course before my round today, it really helped me relax.
“I then just wanted to follow the yardage book, keep it in play and find fairways and greens. I managed to do that well today.
“The nine-foot birdie conversion on 13 was the point when I thought I had the match in the bag.
“The highlight of the week for me was good course management with my caddie Sonu contributing a lot to that.
“You have to be 100 per cent committed on this course and that’s what I did for most part of the week.
“I realised when I went to Indonesia for the ADT, I felt a little void because Sonu wasn’t there.
“He’s not just my caddie but like a younger brother. He has played a big part in my performance this week.”
Also read: Dominant Yuvraj Singh Sandhu opens four-shot lead at J&K Open
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