Jairaj Singh Sandhu clinches maiden title at Haryana Open Golf after playoff victory

Chandigarh golfer Jairaj Singh Sandhu claimed his first title at the INR 1 crore Haryana Open 2023 held at the Panchkula Golf Club, exhibiting unwavering consistency throughout the tournament and ultimately securing victory in a thrilling playoff.

Jairaj, who held the lead in the initial two days but slipped to second place on the third day, bounced back with a flawless five-under 67 on the final day. His strong performance led to a playoff against Honey Baisoya, who produced the best score of six-under 66 on the last day, resulting in both players finishing tied at 18-under 270 after the regulation 72 holes.

In the playoff, Jairaj emerged victorious by sinking a crucial five-footer, earning a prize of INR 15 lakh and a significant leap from 44th to 13th position in the TATA Steel PGTI Ranking.

This win marked Jairaj as the fifth first-time winner in the PGTI season, joining other newcomers like Sachin Baisoya, Karan Pratap Singh, Sunhit Bishnoi, and Harshjeet Singh Sethie.

Among the notable finishers, Akshay Sharma secured the third spot, while other Chandigarh-based players like Yuvraj Singh Sandhu and Angad Cheema finished in the top 10.

Jairaj’s consistent performance and steady play throughout the tournament allowed him to achieve his goals for the season, playing in the leader group, shooting a bogey-free round, and securing his first title.

Additionally, Abhishek Kumar of Panchkula stood out as the best-performing amateur, finishing 51st with a total of eight-over 296, securing the trophy in the Haryana Open tournament.

-IANS