Shaurya Bhattacharya's Dramatic Playoff Victory at Poona Club Open

Shaurya Bhattacharya (69-63-67-64) carded a flawless seven-under 64 in the last round, the day's best score, to finish with a total of 21-under 263 before making a birdie in the playoff to edge out Yuvraj Sandhu.

It was Bhattacharya's second title of the season and his third overall, which earned him a cheque worth INR 15 lakh and saw him consolidate his fourth position in the PGTI Order of Merit as his season earnings moved to INR 83,02,392.

Yuvraj Sandhu (65-67-65-66), who also totalled 21-under 263, posted a 66 in the fourth round before losing out with a par in the playoff to finish runner-up. Sandhu picked up the runner-up cheque worth INR 10 lakh, which in turn helped him extend his lead in the PGTI Order of Merit by over INR 10 lakh over his nearest rival, Arjun Prasad. The 28-year-old Sandhu's season earnings now stand at INR 98,67,200.

Veer Ahlawat and Shivendra Singh Sisodia finished in a distant tied third at 12-under 272.

PGTI's continuous efforts to grow professional golf in India are supported all year round by its Tour Partners, Rolex, Amul, IndusInd Bank, Victorious Choice, Campa, Amrutanjan Electro Plus, Golf Plus Monthly, and Golf Design India.

Pune's Rohan Dhole Patil ended the week as the best-placed among the local professionals as he finished 14th at six-under 278.

The 22-year-old Delhi resident Bhattacharya began the day with pars on the first seven holes, even as Yuvraj Sandhu, the overnight leader by two shots, raced ahead to build a five-shot lead at that stage.

Bhattacharya's 12-foot birdie conversion on the eighth then triggered a huge turnaround. Bhattacharya thereafter went on to collect five birdies over the next six holes thanks to his outstanding tee shots and a 25-foot conversion. He thus got within one shot of the leader, Sandhu.

Sandhu enjoyed a two-shot lead heading into the last hole. However, an erratic tee shot and a missed short putt by Sandhu resulted in a bogey for him on the 18th, even as Shaurya drained a birdie on the same hole to take the match into a playoff.

On the playoff hole, Sandhu missed the fairway once again and came up with a par, while Shaurya was solid from tee to green and thus scored the decisive birdie to walk away with the trophy.

Bhattacharya said, "It was a very thrilling day of golf with the match going down to the wire. I felt like I held my nerves really well. I made very crucial putts, especially the par putt on the 16th. Then, on the 18th, the focus was on making a birdie. The game-changer was the 25-footer for birdie on the 11th hole, which I was not really expecting. That gave me a lot of momentum.

"My mindset on the playoff hole was to stay in the present, focus on my breathing and my aim, and follow my process. Importantly, I kept the ball in play with my tee shot on the playoff hole. That set up the finish for me. I now feel like I can close the second half of the season well," he added.

- IANS