Nuh (Haryana), March 03: In a most thrilling end to the league stage of the DP World PGTI 72 The League powered by IndusInd Bank, UP Prometheans and Rajasthan Regals booked their spots in the final to be held on Friday, March 6 at Qutab Golf Course.
Both teams were top two at the end of the fifth round, and as luck would have it, they were drawn to meet each other in the final round of the league.
Rajasthan looked like cruising to the finals when their final fourball match reached dormie after 15 holes. That meant Dhruv Sheoran and Yuvraj Singh needed to just halve one of the remaining three holes against Abhinav Lohan and Manoj S. That would have moved them ahead of a rampant Charminar Champions, who defeated Mumbai Aces 12-3 to set the clubhouse lead with 43 points.
However, Manoj turned the game on its head in stunning fashion. On the 16th hole, the 17-year-old from Bengaluru chipped-in for a birdie to keep the match alive, and then hit a peach of a second shot to three feet from 157 yards for another birdie and win on the 17th. On the 18th hole, Manoj made a birdie from the bunker to steal an impossible half.
The Regals team looked downbeat, because they had fallen to a tie for second place with Charminar, and result was set to be resolved by a countback. The first countback was on the number of matches won, which was tied again as both teams had won 13 matches in their five rounds. It was then broken on the basis of number of holes by which they were up. That tilted the result in Rajasthan’s favour, who were 42-up combined, while Charminar were 35-up.
Rajasthan's captain Ajeetesh Sandhu, whose massive 8&6 alongside Michele Ortolani in the foursomes against Mumbai Aces in the third round played a critical role, said: “It was an absolute rollercoaster. I think when you play individually, you’re always in control of what’s going on. But I think as a team, there’s so much responsibility for others, and everyone gives it their best and it’s just a different feeling to kind of pull through for the team. It’s an amazing feeling now that we are through.”
Manoj, who ensured Prometheans will go as the top team in the finals, said: “Both teams played awesome golf today. No one gave up on any hole. But the last three holes were just fantastic. I am so happy for the team.”
UP captain Shaurya Bhattacharya was delighted with the late win.
“It was really interesting because it just went down the wire,” said Bhattacharya.
“We sort of won our singles and foursomes in the beginning, so we were assured that we would be through to the finals. But the way Manoj and Abhinav pulled it off after being three down, three to play, it was really amazing. It just showed a lot of resilience and how hungry we were as a team.”
The final of the inaugural DP World PGTI’s 72 The League will be played between UP Prometheans and Rajasthan Regals on Friday, March 6, at Qutab Golf Course. The remaining four teams will play for the plate.
72 The league has been launched by DP World PGTI in partnership with Game of Life Sports (GOLS).
League standings after the 5th round:
UP Prometheans – 45 points
Rajasthan Regals – 43 points
Charminar Champions – 43 points
Nava Raipur – 35 points
Mumbai Aces – 27 points
Kolkata Classics – 21 points
(Rajasthan Regal secured the second spot in the finals, winning in a countback against Charminar Champions)
Follow 72 The League on Instagram: @72TheLeague
About Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI):
The Professional Golf Tour of India serves as the official governing and sanctioning body for men's professional golf in India and is a recognized member of the 'International Golf Federation' and the 'International Federation of PGA Tours'. PGTI also enjoys a strategic alliance with the DP World Tour (European Tour). PGTI events offer 'Official World Golf Ranking' (OWGR) points. The Tour is led by its President, Padma Bhushan Shri. Kapil Dev, an iconic sporting legend who continues to inspire athletes and audiences nationwide. Global logistics leader DP World is the Title Partner and Official Umbrella Partner of the PGTI under a multi-year landmark partnership.
About Game of Life Sports:
Established in 2023, “Game of Life,” creatively derived from the acronym G-O-L-F, is India’s premier sportainment venture dedicated to revolutionizing the world of golf. Embracing the spirit of ‘sportainment,’ its mission is to make golf more popular and mainstream by transforming it into an exciting and dynamic sport by introducing innovative formats like leagues, attracting new talent and sponsors, and engaging a new generation of fans through technology. Seasoned entrepreneurs Amit Kharabanda and Samant Sikka, united by their shared experiences and passion for golf, are the co-founders of Game of Life.