Jubilant Rajasthan Regals members celebrate with their captain Ajeetesh Sandhu (centre) after winning the DP World PGTI’s inaugural 72 The League at the Qutab course in New Delhi on Friday.
By Rahul Banerji
Rajasthan Regals swept aside favoured UP Prometheans 12-3 to win the inaugural 72 The League at New Delhi’s Qutab Golf Course on Friday.
After qualifying for the final as the second-placed team on countback from the five-round league stage, Regals paid back the Prometheans for the crushing 4-10 loss in the fifth round of the preliminaries.
The winners received the stunning Vibhor Sogani-designed trophy and Rs 1 crore in prize money. The runners-up took home a silver salver and Rs 50 lakh at the event powered by IndusInd Bank.
Prometheans put their two strongest players – unbeaten captain Shaurya Bhattacharya and Arjun Prasad – in the opening singles in a bid to mount early pressure.
The Regals, however, torpedoed that plan with Jairaj Singh Sandhu beating Bhattacharya 4&3, and Akshay Sharma defeating Prasad 2&1.
With only one win required from the remaining three matches on the day, Rajasthan sealed the deal when their foursome pairing of Aryaman Mohan and Yuvraj Singh beat Joshua Seale and Arjun Sharma on the 18th hole.
Winning putt
Young Mohan had the honour of making the winning putt for his team on the final hole.
In the fourballs, Regals captain Ajeetesh Sandhu lost his first match of the tournament alongside Michele Ortolani.
Chikkarangappa S. and Dhruv Sheoran completed the 12-3 margin with an inconsequential 2&1 win over Gaurav Pratap Singh and Pranav Mardikar.
A delighted Sandhu said: “It’s been an incredible honour to lead this bunch of players. From the moment of the auction, I knew we had a lot of depth in the team.
“However, more importantly, when we got together for the first time, everyone jelled with each other. The chemistry has been fantastic.
“It’s been an amazing journey over the past two weeks, and we could not have asked for a better finish. It’s been an unforgettable tournament for us players.
“We are all so proud that we will forever be remembered as the first team to win it.
“I haven’t been part of a lot of teams, but if this is what it feels like, then I’m on board for a lot more of them.”
Mohan admitted that even though it was a putt of less than four feet, his hands were trembling as he settled over the winning putt.
Nervous moment
“I’ve had putts to win before, and we are so accustomed to rolling in those four-footers every single day. But, on that one, I am not gonna lie, I couldn’t feel my hands. I was a mess, but thankfully, Yuvraj helped me,” said Mohan.
Bhattacharya said it was one of “those days” when nothing went their way.
“It wasn’t our day, I guess. We played well throughout the tournament, but it just didn’t go our way.
“It will take a little time to sink in and we are all disappointed, but we had a great stretch going in and we gave ourselves a chance to win the trophy. We will come back strong next year.”
Charminar Champions won the Plate Championship and Rs 20 lakh to ease the pain of the countback that saw them finish third behind the Regals after the league phase after both teams tallied 43 points.
Kolkata Classics were fourth in the tournament launched by DP World PGTI in partnership with Game of Life Sports, Mumbai Aces were fifth and the heavily-favoured Naya Raipur were sixth and last.
Scores
Final: Rajasthan Regals beat UP Prometheans 12-3
Singles: Jairaj Singh Sandhu beat Shaurya Bhattacharya 4&3; Akshay Sharma beat Arjun Prasad 2&1
Fourballs: Michele Ortolani/Ajeetesh Sandhu lost to Abhinav Lohan/Manoj S 3&2; Chikkarangappa S/Dhruv Sheoran beat Gaurav Pratap Singh/Pranav Mardikar 2&1
Foursomes: Aryaman Mohan/Yuvraj Singh beat Joshua Seale/Arjun Sharma 1-up
Plate Championship placings
3. Charminar Champions – 122 points
4. Kolkata Classics – 110 points
5. Mumbai Aces – 109 points
6. Nava Raipur – 109 points
Also read: UP, Rajasthan in 72 The League final after closing-day thriller
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