Johannesburg, April 18: Top professional golfer Udayan Mane clinched the title at the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) Invitational in South Africa on Saturday, defeating Gaganjeet Bhullar by a commanding 7 shots at the prestigious Royal Johannesburg West.
Mane, who maintained his lead from day one, stumbled slightly at the start of his final round with two bogeys. However, he quickly regained control. This Olympian made a remarkable comeback, scoring 7 birdies on the remaining holes and finishing with a score of 67 for a spectacular victory.
This win marks a strong return to form for Mane. His rounds of 65, 64, and 67 brought him to an impressive total of 20-under, the best score recorded this season.
Four-time IGPL champion Bhullar finished in second place with a score of 13-under after rounds of 67, 68, and 68, while Manav Shah took third with a score of 12-under. Despite consistently good performance with only one bogey over three rounds, Bhullar regretted missed opportunities on the greens.
Mane’s victory margin is the largest this season, making him the third different winner of the year. Previously, Bhullar won in Chandigarh and Sachin Baisoya in Mauritius. This win also ends a long wait for the former Order of Merit winner, whose last title came in 2021. With this victory, his total professional titles now stands at 12.
Starting the final day with a six-shot lead, Mane overcame early setbacks by making consecutive birdies on the fifth and sixth holes, followed by another birdie on the ninth to stabilize his round. He maintained his dominance on the back nine, adding four more birdies to cap off a memorable week.
Notable performances included Shaurya Binu, who delivered the tournament’s best round with an impressive score of 63 on the final day, while veteran player Shiv Kapoor also impressed with a score of 64. Both players climbed the leaderboard to finish tied for fourth.
South Africa’s Musiwalo Nethunjavi emerged as the top local player, finishing in sixth place with a score of 9-under, while Karanveer Kochhar slipped to seventh due to a late stumble. Young players Raghav Chugh and Harshjeet Singh Sethi tied for eighth, while Alessio Graziani rounded out the top ten. In the season rankings, Bhullar remains at the top, followed by Baisoya in second, with Mane’s win elevating him to third.
The team rankings also saw significant changes. ‘Atri Mumbai’ claimed the top spot thanks to Mane’s stellar performance. Although ‘Green Fuels Visakhapatnam’ secured first place this week, they dropped to second overall. Meanwhile, ‘Honor Homes Gurugram’ gained a strong lead due to Binu’s excellent performance. The next stage of the IGPL will be held in Congo.
My name is Himanshu Tiwari. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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