Manu Gandas shot the day’s best score of six-under 66 to grab the sole lead at a total of 13-under 203 after Round Three of the INR 1 crore Nissan presents Delhi-NCR Open 2024 being played at the Noida Golf Course.
Manu (68-69-66), the winner of the 2022 edition of the event, enjoyed an error-free day as he moved up three spots from his overnight fourth position.
Yashas Chandra (71-64-69), one of the three overnight leaders, fired a 69 to end the day in second position at 12-under 204.
Veer Ahlawat (70) and Angad Cheema (71), the other two joint overnight leaders, closed the penultimate day in third place at 11-under 205 and fourth place at 10-under 206 respectively.
Defending champion Gaurav Pratap Singh was in tied 15th place.
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Manu, the 2022 TATA Steel PGTI Ranking champion, who started the day two shots behind the lead, hit most fairways and greens during his solid effort. The 28-year-old’s excellent iron shots and chipping helped him land it within five feet on four occasions for birdies.
Manu, an eight-time winner on the PGTI, also did well to get out of trouble and salvage pars on the 16th and 17th as a 25-feet putt and a terrific chip bailed him out on these two holes.
Manu, currently ranked third on the PGTI’s money list with a win already under his belt this season, said, “I’ve won here at Noida Golf Course a couple of times, once as an amateur and once as a professional. So, I’m quite familiar with the course and that gives me confidence going into the final round. I have my gameplan in place and will look to stick to that.
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“Shooting a bogey-free round ahead of the final day always helps. Importantly, I’ve kept the errors out this week having dropped just a bogey and a double-bogey each in three rounds. Those par-saves towards the end of the round today were crucial as they kept me ahead. I’m happy that I was able to recover well from a few tough situations.”
Yashas, searching for his maiden title, kept in touch with the lead as a result of his 69 that featured an eagle on the 14th, four birdies and three bogeys. Yashas outstanding hitting ensured he played five-under on the four par-5s for the second day in succession making an eagle and three birdies on the par-5s.
