Bhattacharya takes play-off win at The Poona Club Open

Shaurya Bhattacharya (third from left) receives his winner’s check from Poona Club President Gaurav Gadhoke and former club captain and golf consultant Ikram Khan (second from left). Also seen are PGTI tournament director Sampath Chari (far left), club VP Indraneel Mujgule (third from right), club golf course lady captain Padmaja Shirke and club captain Jay Shirke. Image courtesy of PGTI.

By Rahul Banerji

Shaurya Bhattacharya saved his best for the latest win over tournament favorite Yuvraj Sandhu in a play-off at The Poona Club Open on Friday.

The tenacious Bhattacharya, who trailed by two shots after round three and by five midway through Friday, birdied the first playoff hole to win the Rs 1 crore event, the PGTI said.

An impeccable 7 under par 64 saw Bhattacharya draw on the final regular hole, where he birdied a bogey from Sandhu for a two-shot swing that set up the play-off

The Delhi-based player and Sandhu had a total of 21-under 263 before the decisive birdie gave Bhattacharya (69-63-67-64) his second win of the season and a third PGTI title overall.

Strong boost

It earned him Rs 15 lakh and consolidated his fourth rank on the PGTI Order of Merit with season earnings of Rs 83,02,392.

Sandhu (65-67-65-66) earned Rs 10 lakh to extend his lead in the Order of Merit over nearest rival Arjun Prasad, with his winnings approaching the Rs.1 crore mark (Rs 98,67,200).

Previous merit toppers Veer Ahlawat and Shivendra Singh Sisodia finished tied for third at 12 under 272.

The Poona Club Open was supported by the host venue, title sponsors Vencobb and NECC, and Ventive, SKS Fasteners, Elica, Marvel Realtors, Shubbaan Investments, DFMC, Automech and Kinetic, while Novotel Pune Nagar Road was an associate partner.

Rohan Dhole Patil from Pune was the best placed among the local professionals in 14^e place at 6 under 278.

Racing away

Bhattacharya, 22, started Friday with pars on the first seven holes while Sandhu, the overnight leader by two shots, raced out to a five-shot lead at that stage.

A birdie conversion from 12 feet on eight provided the turnaround for Bhattacharya, who collected five birdies over the next six holes with good work off the tee and a 25-foot putt that closed the gap to just one shot.

Sandhu pulled away again with a birdie on 15, which his pursuer parried for a two-shot lead heading into the final hole.

An errant tee shot and a short missed putt by Sandhu resulted in a bogey on 18, even as Bhattacharya put away a birdie to take the match to a play-off.

On the playoff hole, Sandhu missed the fairway again and came up with a par, while his opponent was solid from tee to green for the decisive birdie and the trophy.

“It was an exciting day of golf with the match going to the extreme,” Bhattacharya said later.

Crucial wells

“I felt like I controlled my nerves very well and made very crucial putts, especially the par putt on 16. On 18 the emphasis was on making birdie.

“The game-changer was the 25-footer for birdie on 11, which I didn’t really expect. That gave me a lot of momentum.

“My mentality going into the playoff hole was to stay in the present, focus on my breathing and my goal and process.

“It is important that I kept the ball in play with my tee shot on the play-off hole. That was the finish for me. I now have the feeling that I can end the second half of the season well.”

Also read: Sandhu leads by two shots after round 3 of Poona Club Open

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