Intense Competition Heats Up in DP World PGTI 72 The League
Thrilling Matches at Jaypee Greens Golf Course
Greater Noida (Uttar Pradesh) witnessed an exciting showdown on February 26, as the DP World PGTI 72 The League unfolded at the Jaypee Greens Golf Course. The competition has narrowed down to a fierce contest between the UP Prometheans and the Rajasthan Regals, both of whom emerged victorious in all their matches during the third round.
Starting the day with 17 points each, both teams secured an additional 15 points from their respective matches. The Prometheans triumphed over the Kolkata Classics, while the Regals achieved a similar victory against the Mumbai Aces. In another match, Nava Raipur managed to defeat the Charminar Champions 9-6, positioning themselves in third place with a total of 23 points.
Remarkably, every match played that day concluded with a clear winner, with no ties recorded.
UP captain Shaurya Bhattacharya, who teamed up with Himmat Rai to secure a 4&3 win against Khalin Joshi and Ajay Baisoya, expressed his satisfaction with the day's performance. He noted, "It was a fantastic day for us. I felt great about my play and the synergy with Himmat. The team's overall performance was commendable."
Bhattacharya highlighted a pivotal moment when Himmat made a crucial birdie putt on the 11th hole, which shifted the momentum in their favor. He added, "Today was crucial for us, and we aimed to maximize our points. We are now in a strong position but are eager for the upcoming rounds."
In a twist of fate, the Prometheans are set to face the Regals in the final league round.
Dhruv Sheoran from the Regals commented on the competition, stating, "We have formidable teams in the final matches, including Nava Raipur and UP. While we performed well in the first three rounds, we are aware that results can vary, as seen in our previous round loss."
Sheoran's victory over Aces captain Veer Ahlawat by 2&1 set a positive tone for the Regals, which included a commanding 8&6 win by captain Ajeetesh Sandhu and Michele Ortolani against Mumbai's Aniket Sawant and Declan Kenny.
Reflecting on his match against Ahlawat, Sheoran shared, "Veer is a great friend and a talented player. I felt nervous but trusted my preparation and enjoyed the camaraderie during the round."
The competition requires each player to participate in at least one match of every format, presenting a strategic challenge for team management. Sheoran emphasized the importance of planning while also fostering a supportive team environment.
Players like Chikkarangappa S, Sheoran, Abhinav Lohan (UP Prometheans), and Anant Singh Ahlawat (Nava Raipur) have maintained perfect records across the three rounds.
The fourth round is scheduled for Monday, March 2, at Classic Golf & Country Club, featuring matches between Charminar Champions and Kolkata Classics, Rajasthan Regals against Nava Raipur, and Mumbai Aces facing UP Prometheans.
Current league standings after the third round are as follows:
Rajasthan Regals – 32 points
UP Prometheans – 32 points
Nava Raipur – 23 points
Charminar Champions – 21 points
Mumbai Aces – 11 points
Kolkata Classics – 7 points.