Ajeetesh Sandhu claims first Asian Tour title at Yeangder TPC

10/08/2017

India golfer Ajeetesh Sandhu has emerged victorious at the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship, becoming the second Indian player, after Gaganjeet Bhullar, to win the tournament.The win is a huge one for Sandhu since, earlier this year, he missed out on a Tour card at the Qualifying School.

The 28-year-old returned with a winning total of 12-under 276 and defeated USA's Johannes Veerman (71) by one-shot at the Linkou International Golf and Country Club. Sandhu has received USD 90,000 along with a two-year winner's exemption on the Asian Tour as winning prize.

"I'm still shaking from the last putt but now that I'm thinking about it, it is absolutely amazing," Sandhu told PTI.

"I thought I would be a lot more nervous than what I was but after I got back to the hotel yesterday (round 3), 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."

Moreover, Sandhu is also the second player to win an event without a full Tour card after Jazz Janewattananond.

"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,” Sandhu told while talking about the final round," he added.

"I thought about the win after I hit the drive on 18 because the guys were two shots back. But then my second shot ended up in the bunker and I told myself that you can't let that thought enter your mind. It does cross your mind but I was pretty sure I had to come back to the present.”

Veerman had an eye on the title as well but yet again he had to settle for runner-up, the second time in his career on the Asian Tour. The American almost forced a play-off when his eagle chip on the 18th hole hit the pin. Sandu also shared the chat that he had with Johannes Veerman on the 18th hole.

"While I was walking up the 18th hole, Johannes Veerman said to me, 'Good drive man but you better birdie this hole because I'm going to eagle it.' And his chip for eagle actually hit the flag! He just looked at me and we both laughed. It was great fun playing with him," Sandhu recalled.

Local Taipei star Lu Wei-chih posted a 72 and missed out on the chance to win the Yeangder TPC for the second time. He fired four birdies against as many bogeys to get his best outcome since winning the 2016 Mercuries Taiwan Masters.

Maintaining his calm helped Sandhu to clinch his first Asian Tour title after, earlier this year, Sandhu missed out on a Tour card at Qualifying School. Sandhu fully utilized his country exemption this week and edged a struggling Veerman to the title after trading three birdies against one bogey.

Ajeetesh Sandhu

Ajeetesh Sandhu claims first Asian Tour title at Yeangder TPC

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