Greater Noida, February 25: Saptak Talwar, playing on his home course at Jaypee Greens Golf Course in Greater Noida, produced clutch golf down the closing stretch to slay Rashid Khan, one of the most formidable match play stars of the country, in a second-round singles match of DP World PGTI’s 72 The League, powered by IndusInd Bank.
Talwar’s Mumbai Aces recovered from a poor opening day and tallied nine points against Kolkata Classics to reach 11 points.
Overnight leaders Rajasthan Regals did not have the best day, winning just one match and halving another against Charminar Champions, but the four points still kept them at the top of the standings (17 points), where they were joined by UP Prometheans.
The Prometheans were denied solo lead by a magic second shot from inside the trees by American Jhared Hack on the last hole. A hooked 8-iron second shot from 180 yards went straight in for an eagle, for a win that seemed impossible at one stage in the fourballs.
The 27-year-old Talwar gets a warm and fuzzy feeling on this golf course, where he won his first title as a professional golfer last year at the Adani Invitational Golf Championship.
And Talwar showed once again why home advantage counts. On the 16th hole, he was stymied against a tree, but somehow managed to advance his ball to the green for a par. On the 17th, both players were off the greens and Khan’s shot hit the pinflag and trickled to less than a foot. After giving him that putt, Talwar then rolled in a putt from nearly 90 feet for an incredible birdie that gave him the all-important lead.
“It was a long, stressful day. I grew up at Delhi Golf Club, and I’ve admired Rashid Khan ever since I picked up a club. So, to take him down out here in the fashion that it turned out, was breathtaking to be honest,” said Talwar.
“And yes, this golf course is special for me. Got my first win here and I have spent a lot of time in my early years here. So, this course holds a special place in my heart.”
After a fantastic win on Monday and combining well in the much tougher foursomes format (alternate ball), Rajasthan Regals’ Chikkarangappa S and Dhruv Sheoran were the only pair to be retained for the second round. The duo repaid the faith of captain Ajeetesh Sandhu, beating Anshul Patel and Vishesh Sharma 4&2 in a match where they were in control throughout.
In-form Shubham Jaglan and American Dominic Piccirillo secured three points for Charminar Champions beating K Prabagaran and Yuvraj Singh 2&1 in the foursomes.
Jaglan later revealed their secret: “We communicated so well. Before the match, we told each other we are not going to say sorry if any of us puts the other in a bad spot. Actually, nobody wants to put their partner in trouble with their shots. It just happens. And that was a good strategy.”
The third round of the league will be played on Wednesday at Jaypee Greens Golf Course in Noida. Rajasthan Regals will take on Mumbai Aces, while the other two matches will be between Kolkata Classics and UP Prometheans and Nava Raipur will be up against Charminar Champions.
League standings after the 2nd round:
Rajasthan Regals – 17 points
UP Prometheans – 17 points
Charminar Champions – 15 points
Nava Raipur – 14 points*
Mumbai Aces – 11 points*
Kolkata Classics – 7 points
(* denotes one unfinished fourball match from the first round, the result of which will be determined on Monday)
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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.