Sandhu is aimed at Mane in Marathon Clover Greens Playoff

Yuvraj Sandhu receives his trophy and check from PGTI CEO Amandep Johl (right) and Clover Greens Golf Course and Resort General Manager Noorallah Patel. Image Courtesy Pgti.

By Rahul Banerji

Yuvraj Sandhu brought UDayan Mane over a play-off of five holes to win the PGTI Players Championship on Clover Greens Golf Course and Resort near Hosur on Friday.

Both at night leader Sandhu and Mane, who were in second place, the regulation game ended in identical totals of 28 under the 256 to bring the problem in the extensive play -off, the PGTI said.

For Sandhu (63-67-61-65) it was back-to-back titles after winning the MySuru open last week and gave him an impressive lead in the PGTI order of merit with a check worth RS 15 Lakh.

The fourth victory of the year of the resident of Chandigarh, achieved after a closure of 6 under 65 and a gritty playoff version, took the income from his season to RS 88.67.200 a lead from over 25 Lakh in the earlier list of the PGTI.

It was also the second wire-to-wire victory of the 28-year-old in two weeks.

Pune Olympian Mane (67-65-62-62), a 12-way winner and former PGTI order from Merit Champion who was looking for a four-year victory watch, moved to fourth place on the money list with a win from RS 10 Lakh on Friday.

Delhi’s Kshitij Nveed Kaul (68-67-64-66) claimed third place on 19 under 265.

Top -amateur

The eighteen-year-old Veer Ganapathy (65) of Bangalore won the best amateur trophy because he was bound in fourth place on 17 under 267.

The others who share fourth place were Delhi’s Shaurya Bhattacharya (65), Karts Sharma (67) of Gurgaon and Nepal’s Subash Tamang (67).

Sandhu, who registered his 13^one Professional victory, was about to the driver while he was driving three times on Friday.

He also took shots on three of the four PAR-5S by landing his second shots on the Green with a number of excellent BAL-Sniking.

Sandhu was on a role on the front nine when he picked up five shots. On the way back, however, he mixed four Birdies with three Bogeys, which allowed Mane to have a chance.

The Punekar, who started the day with Birdies on the first four holes, then added another five at the expense of a lonely cases.

Sandhu after the day after, Mane caught him when the last one dropped a bogey on the closure 18^one That forced the play -off.

After the first four playoff holes (the par-3 18^one) were halved, it came down to the shortened fifth extra hole where Sandhu came up with a spotless T-shot shot that set up a four-foot Birdie Putt.

Memorable result

Even when Mane Par on the fifth Playoff -made, Yuvraj sank his Birdie Putt to achieve a memorable victory.

“I want to thank my team consisting of my mental coach, my physical trainer, my coach Gurbaaz Mann who is here today and my family,” said Sandhu.

“They all contributed a lot to make me believe that I can be the best.

“During the Playoff I kept telling myself that this is what you live for, train and dream for. That kept me going.

“When on the decisive play -off hole, the Yardage of the Tee was just perfect for me. In practice I often closed my shots from that distance. So I was quite confident on the tee and visualized my shot that helped me to get close to the flag.

Great help

“It was fun today to play the leadership group with Mane, because we know each other for so long. In my first year at international level, UDayan and Samarth (Dwivedi) helped me a lot.

“Our friendship goes beyond Golf. Today Udayan kept me sharp. He plays really well and I am sure there is a victory for him.

“My driving was noticed these two weeks. I worked a lot with my coach Gurbaaz on my driver during the low season, and hit 200 balls a day until my shoulder would actually hurt.

“All that hard work together with my determination, competitiveness and never-give-up attitude helped at the end.”

Read also: Yuvraj Sandhu is 10 to broaden Clover Grovers Lead

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