Taipei: Indian golfer Ajeetesh Sandhu fired a superb two-under 70 to clinch his maiden Asian Tour title at the USD 500,000 Yeangder Tournament Players Championship (TPC) here Sunday.
The 28-year-old sunk three birdies against a lone bogey to return with a winning total of 11-under 277 to defeat USA’s Johannes Veerman (71) by one-shot at the Linkou International Golf and Country Club.
With the victory Sandhu took home USD 90,000 including a two-year winner’s exemption on the Asian Tour. “I’m still shaking from the last putt but now that I’m thinking about it, it is absolutely amazing,” said Sandhu after becoming only the second player from India after Gaganjeet Bhullar to win the Yeangder TPC.
“I thought I would be a lot more nervous than what I was but after I got back to the hotel Saturday (round three), I had so much of support from India. So many people, including people I don’t know were messaging me. That really calmed me down.
“I’m proud of myself that I was able to focus on my own my game. I was just trying to hit the next shot the best that I could and I won,” added Sandhu, who is also the second player after Jazz Janewattananond to win an event without a full Tour card.
Talking about the final round, Sandhu said: “There were a lot of turning points. I started off really good. I didn’t birdie the first hole but I played it really well and I birdied two and three. I just played them absolutely perfect. After that I felt so comfortable. Those birdies really made me calm down.”
press trust of India
