Harendra cruises to victory

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, July 25

Chandigarh’s Harendra Gupta shot a final round of 5-under 67 to cruise to a 5-shot win at the TATA Steel PGTI Feeder Tour event at the Aravalli Golf Course in Faridabad today.

Gupta (70-64-67) carded a total of 15-under 201 to win his first title in three years.

Mumbai’s Anil Bajrang Mane (70-70-66) fired the day’s joint best score of 6-under 66 to finish in second place, which also propelled him to the lead in the PGTI Feeder Tour Order of Merit.

Gupta, who led by four shots going into the final round, brought all his experience to the fore on Thursday as he made an eagle, four birdies and a bogey during his third round of 67.

The 35-year-old never looked in trouble at any stage and managed to drive home the advantage that he had gained in the previous round. After a birdie on the 3rd, Gupta drove the par-4 green on the 8th and chipped-in from 30 yards for an eagle-two. It was his third eagle-two in two days.

He made his only bogey of the day on the 10th, but then roared back with three more birdies on the 11th, 16th and 17th. He drove the par-4 16th green to set up a two-putt birdie and sank putts from a range of 15 to 20 feet on the 11th and 17th.

“I just built on the momentum from yesterday. It’s been a terrific week. I made four eagles and four chip-ins this week. The second round of 8-under 64 was one of my best in recent times. It served as a huge confidence booster,” said Gupta.

“Today, I didn’t feel any pressure as such. I struck the ball really well and drove two of the par-4 greens. I’ve won after a long time and hopefully this win will give me the much needed self-belief to get my game back on track,” he added.

Mane, who was overnight tied seventh, climbed five spots to second place on Day 3, courtesy his 66 that included seven birdies and a bogey. He drained a 

20-footer for the birdie on the 17th.

It was Mane’s third runner-up finish on the Feeder Tour. He had finished fourth at last week’s Feeder Tour event at Chhawla. 

Delhi’s Sachin Baisoya (72) took third place at 5-under 211, while Faridabad’s Abhinav Lohan (72) shared fourth place with Chandigarh’s Yuvraj Singh Sandhu (66) and Pune’s Sagar Raghuvanshi (66) at 4-under 212.

Ramesh Kumar (70), the other Faridabad golfer in the fray, finished tied seventh at 3-under 213.