Sandhu opens a three-shot lead over Moving Day at Jaipur Open

Jaipur Open day three leader and Order of Merit topper Yuvraj Sandhu in action at Rambagh Golf Club on Thursday. Image courtesy of PGTI.

By Rahul Banerji

Yuvraj Sandhu put in a combative third round to take a three-shot lead over the Jaipur Open field at Rambagh Golf Club on Thursday.

The Order of Merit leader shot a 4-under par 66 for a total of 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), who trailed Gurugram’s Kushal Singh by a shot overnight, had an eagle, four birdies and two bogeys to take control of Moving Day.

The Chandigarh golfer is chasing a sixth PGTI title this season and if he wins, it would equal Manu Gandas’ PGTI record for most titles in a season in 2022.

Kushal Singh (64-63-70) had a mixed day as he posted a 70 punctuated by four birdies and two double-bogeys to drop to second at 13-under 197.

Bangladesh’s Badal Hossain (65-67-66) posted a flawless 66, moving up four places to 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 last and a chip-in for Eagle on eight.

A missed up and down resulted in Sandhu’s second bogey of the day at 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 have liked, but my hitting was top class 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. Then I finally played the way I wanted to all week.”

Sandhu, who played his first PGTI event at Rambagh Golf Club in 2018 while still an amateur, added: “With my current stroke form I think I can match my best of 10-under on this course, a score I achieved in 2021 when I last played here.

“I have improved my ball control and it is reflected in my scores. This is thanks to all the work I have done together with my coach Gurbaaz Mann.”

Jaipur-based professionals Hemendra Choudhary (3 under 207) and Prakhar Asawa (level par 210) were tied for 28th.^e and 42^i.e respectively.

Also read: Teenager Manoj S. goes low for the first day at Jaipur Open

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