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Journalism of Courage
Holding his nerves together, Gurgaon golfer Manu Gandas emerged as the winner after a three-way playoff against Chandigarh golfer Yuvraj Singh Sandhu and Shubham Jaglan in the PGTI Rs 1-crore Trident Open at Chandigarh Golf Club.
Gandas, who carded a final round score of one-over-73, was tied with Sandhu and Jaglan. The trio ended the third round with an identical overall score of seven-under-281. In the play-off, Gandas made a par to win the title. Earlier in this final round, Gandas sank a birdie on the second hole before making par on the next seven holes. He made a bogey on the tenth hole before he sank a birdie on the 13th hole. Gandas then made a double bogey on the 16th hole before making pars on the next two holes.
“I was a little frustrated with the double-bogey on the 16th but then just decided to let it pass and rather focus on wha t I had in my control. On the playoff hole (18th hole), I thought I would play it like I had done through the week by ensuring that I foundthe centre of the fairway. That’s exactly what I did, and it paid off for me. This year has become even more special for me as I became a father just two months back. This is the first time my two-month-old son has travelled to an event and I’m delighted to lift the trophy with him in my arms and my wife beside me,” said Gandas after the win.
Sandhu carded a final round score of two-under-70, while Jaglan too made a final round score of two-under-70.
Gandas’ ninth professional win saw him pick up a winning cheque of Rs 15 lakh, which also lifted him from 14th to seventh position in the PGTI Order of Merit.
Seventeen-year-old rookie Manoj S, the third-round leader, who was looking to become the youngest player to win as a professional on the PGTI, shot a last round of three-over-75 to finish tied fourth at six-under 282 along with Shaurya Bhattacharya (71), the winner of PGTI’s last event.
