Greater Noida, Feb 26 (NationPress) The competition is heating up between the UP Prometheans and Rajasthan Regals, as both teams achieved sweeping victories in the third round of the DP World PGTI 72 The League, held at the Jaypee Greens Golf Course in Greater Noida on Thursday.

Starting the day with 17 points each, both teams secured an additional 15 points from their matches. The Prometheans triumphed over the Kolkata Classics, while the Regals recorded a similar win against the Mumbai Aces. In another match, Nava Raipur defeated the Charminar Champions 9-6, positioning themselves in third place with 23 points.

Notably, all 15 matches played that day resulted in decisive outcomes, with no ties recorded.

The UP captain, Shaurya Bhattacharya, who teamed with Himmat Rai to overcome Khalin Joshi and Ajay Baisoya 4&3 in the fourballs, remarked: “It was a fantastic day for us. I was pleased with my individual performance and the synergy with Himmat. The entire team played exceptionally well.”

“After being all square through 10 holes, we had a pivotal moment when Himmat made a crucial 12-foot birdie putt on the 11th hole, which shifted the momentum in our favor,” he added.

“This day was crucial for us. We aimed to maximize our points, and now we find ourselves in a favorable position, but our focus is on the upcoming rounds.”

Interestingly, the Prometheans are set to take on the Regals in the final league round. “We face strong contenders in the last two matches – Nava Raipur and UP. We've performed well in the initial rounds, but we know that outcomes can vary, as evidenced by our previous match losses,” stated Dhruv Sheoran, who defeated Aces captain Veer Ahlawat by 2&1.

Sheoran's victory helped set the tone, highlighted by a dominating 8&6 win for captain Ajeetesh Sandhu and Michele Ortolani against Mumbai's Aniket Sawant and Declan Kenny.

“Veer is a great friend and a formidable player, so I was nervous going into our match. However, I trusted my preparation and maintained my focus. It was enjoyable to compete against him while sharing laughs throughout the round,” Sheoran shared.

“In this tournament, every team member must participate in at least one match per format. This requires meticulous planning to ensure optimal performance. We invest time in strategizing but then move forward with teamwork,” he concluded.

Players Chikkarangappa S. and Sheoran (both from Regals), along with Abhinav Lohan (UP Prometheans) and Anant Singh Ahlawat (Nava Raipur), are the only players to remain undefeated throughout the three rounds.

The fourth round of the league is scheduled for Monday, March 2, at the Classic Golf & Country Club. The Charminar Champions will compete against the last-placed Kolkata Classic, while the Rajasthan Regals will face off against Nava Raipur. The Mumbai Aces will take on the UP Prometheans.

Current league standings after the third round:

Rajasthan Regals – 32 points

UP Prometheans – 32 points

Nava Raipur – 23 points*

Charminar Champions – 21 points

Mumbai Aces – 11 points*

Kolkata Classics – 7 points

(* indicates one unfinished fourball match from the first round, with the result to be determined on Monday.)