Jaipur Open day three leader and Order of Merit topper Yuvraj Sandhu in action at Rambagh Golf Club on Thursday. Image courtesy PGTI.
By Rahul Banerji
Yuvraj Sandhu turned in a fighting third-round display to open a three-shot lead over the Jaipur Open field at Rambagh Golf Club on Thursday.
The Order of Merit leader fired a 4 under par 66 to total 16 under 194 at the Rs 1 crore event presented by Victorious Choice and powered by Shubhashish Homes, the PGTI said.
Sandhu (65-63-66), trailing by a shot overnight to Kushal Singh of Gurgaon, had an eagle, four birdies and two bogeys to take control on Moving Day.
The Chandigarh golfer is chasing a sixth PGTI title this season and if he does win, it would match the PGTI record for most titles in a season set by Manu Gandas in 2022.
Kushal Singh (64-63-70) had a mixed day as he came up with a 70 punctuated by four birdies and two double-bogeys that saw him slip to second place at 13-under 197.
Bangladesh’s Badal Hossain (65-67-66) posted a flawless 66 to rise four spots and end the day in third place at 12-under 198.
Long gap
Sandhu, playing in Jaipur after four years, started with a bogey but made steady progress with birdies on holes three and 12 with a tap-in on the latter and a chip-in for eagle on eight.
A missed up and down resulted in Sandhu’s second bogey of the day on 15 but he fought back with birdies on the course’s last two par-5s, 17 and 18.
“I didn’t convert as many putts as I would’ve liked but my hitting was top notch today,” Sandhu said later.
“The bogey on one was a good wake up call and I was in my zone by the time I reached the third tee. Thereafter, I finally played the way I’ve wanted to all week.”
Sandhu, who played his first PGTI event at the Rambagh Golf Club in 2018 while still an amateur, added, “With my current hitting form I think I can match my best of 10-under at this course, a score I achieved back in 2021 when I last played here.
“I’ve improved my ball control and that’s reflecting in my scores. This is thanks to all the work I’ve put in with my coach Gurbaaz Mann.”
Jaipur-based professionals Hemendra Choudhary (3 under 207) and Prakhar Asawa (level par 210) were tied for 28th and 42nd respectively.
Also read: Teenager Manoj S. goes low for the day one lead at Jaipur Open
Related
Discover more from Tee Time Tales
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.