Chandigarh, Nov 14 (NationPress) Manu Gandas faced an unremarkable final round, scoring one-over 73, but demonstrated remarkable resilience to secure victory in a thrilling three-way playoff at the inaugural Trident Open, a prestigious INR 1 crore tournament held at the Chandigarh Golf Club on Friday.

Representing Gurugram, Gandas (66-73-69-73), the leader of the PGTI Order of Merit, alongside local competitor Yuvraj Sandhu (72-69-70-70) and debutant Shubham Jaglan (71-69-71-70), concluded the standard 72 holes with identical scores of seven-under 281, leading to an exciting playoff. Gandas triumphed in the playoff with a par, marking his return to victory after a span of one year and ten months.

This win marked Gandas' ninth professional victory, earning him a cheque of INR 15 lakh and propelling him from 14th to 7th in the PGTI Order of Merit.

Seventeen-year-old rookie Manoj S, the third-round leader aspiring to be the youngest professional winner in PGTI history, finished tied for fourth at six-under 282 with Shaurya Bhattacharya (71), who had previously won the last PGTI event.

Former PGTI Order of Merit champion Gandas, who was one shot behind in second place after round three, made an impressive start on Friday with a brilliant chip setting up a tap-in birdie on the second hole. However, he faced challenges, struggling with pars until the ninth and suffering a bogey on the 10th.

A notable 27-foot birdie on the 13th positioned Gandas as a key contender for the title. Unfortunately, a drive into the trees on the 16th hole resulted in a double-bogey, which was a significant setback.

Both Yuvraj and Shubham managed five birdies and three bogeys to catch up with Gandas, leading to the playoff. In the playoff, Gandas executed the best drive, while his competitors faltered, missing the fairway. He then delivered an excellent chip, leaving him with a four-foot par putt for the win, which he confidently converted.

Reflecting on his performance, Gandas stated, “My strategy today was to continue the successful approach I had used earlier in the week. After achieving seven top-10 finishes in the last nine events, I knew it was just a matter of time before I clinched a win.

“While I felt a bit frustrated with the double-bogey on the 16th, I chose to focus on what I could control. On the playoff hole (18th), I aimed to replicate my approach from the week by ensuring I found the fairway's center, which ultimately paid off.”

“This year is particularly special for me, as I became a father just two months ago. This is the first event my two-month-old son has attended, and I’m thrilled to lift the trophy with him in my arms and my wife by my side.”

Shubham Jaglan's performance as a joint runner-up in his debut PGTI event was commendable. Meanwhile, Yuvraj Sandhu continued his impressive form, extending his lead in the PGTI Rankings, surpassing the INR 1 crore mark in season earnings. He took home a cheque of INR 7,99,900, bringing his total earnings for 2025 to INR 1,06,67,100.