Sandhu takes a six-shot lead into the final round of Servo Masters

Chandigarh’s Yuvraj Sandhu continued his run of red-hot form at the IndianOil Servo Masters in Digboi, Assam on Thursday and will take a six-shot lead into the final day. Image courtesy of PGTI.

By Rahul Banerji

Yuvraj Sandhu delivered a dominant performance to open a six-shot lead during the final round of the IndianOil Servo Masters on Friday in Digboi, Assam.

On Thursday, the rankings leader shot a brilliant bogey-free 6-under-par 66 for a total of 16-under 200 for the Rs 1 crore event at Digboi Golf Links to create space between himself and the pack, the PGTI said.

Sandhu (65-69-66), who led by two strokes after rounds one and two, extended his lead over Moving Day by another four shots, closing in on his third win in Digboi and a fifth title of the season.

The event leader from Chandigarh on the final day is being chased by Viraj Madappa (70-68-68), who is playing in Digboi for the first time and is currently second at 10 under 206.

28-year-old Madappa’s third round 68 moved him one place off his spot on the night, while Sri Lanka’s N. Thangaraja (67) and Veer Ahlawat (69) shared third place at 9-under 207.

Digboi’s Deven Bhumij, the only local professional to make it, was tied for 42^i.e at 4 over 220 with a third round of 73.

Sandhu, who led from day one, got off to a red-hot start on Thursday with five birdies in the first seven holes, where he drained three putts from six to 10 feet.

His final win of the day came eight holes later, on the Par 5 15^e.

Yuvraj, who has already crossed the Rs 1 crore mark in earnings for the season, said, “I hit 17 greens in regular rules for the second day in a row, so my ball striking remains solid.

Hot putter

“The putter did its job too. But I missed a couple of four-footers for birdie on the back nine, which slowed my progress a bit.

“I hold the record for the lowest winning total in Digboi, which is 23 under, and I would like to break that record this week, but I need more putts to fall in the final round to reach that number.

“The fact that I had a birdie opportunity on virtually every hole today and didn’t concede a single bogey also adds to my confidence going into the final round,” added Sandhu, who finished second at the last two PGTI events, both in the playoffs.

Madappa, a PGTI winner earlier this year, has managed to make a mark in his maiden appearance in Digboi on his first-ever trip to Assam.

The Kolkata golfer’s round included a chip-in for eagle on 11, another exceptional chip that gave him a tap-in birdie on 14, two more birdies and a bogey.

Saptak Talwar (72), who finished second midway through the stage, dropped to fifth at 8 under 208 alongside Shivendra Singh Sisodia (70).

Defending champion Jamal Hossain (70) from Bangladesh finished the day in a tie for eighth place at 5 under 211.

Also read: Sandhu retains his lead after day two of Servo Masters over Digboi

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