Digboi, Assam, 20-11-2025

Dominating display by Yuvraj Sandhu gives him commanding six-shot lead in round three of IndianOil SERVO Masters 2025

PGTI Ranking leader Yuvraj Sandhu’s dominating display in round three gave him a commanding six-shot lead at a total of 16-under 200 at the INR 1 crore IndianOil SERVO Masters 2025 being played at the Digboi Golf Links.

Yuvraj (65-69-66), who led by two strokes after rounds one and two, expanded his lead by another four shots on Thursday after firing a brilliant and error-free six-under 66. The 28-year-old from Chandigarh is now poised for his third win in Digboi and fifth title of the season.

Chasing Yuvraj on the final day will be Viraj Madappa (70-68-68), who is playing in Digboi for the first time and is currently placed second at 10-under 206. The 28-year-old Madappa’s third round of 68 lifted him one spot from his overnight tied third position.

N Thangaraja (67) of Sri Lanka and Veer Ahlawat (69), a former winner in Digboi, were tied third at totals of nine-under 207.

Deven Bhumij of Digboi, the only local professional to make the cut, was placed tied 42nd at four-over 220 following his third round of 73.

The IndianOil SERVO Masters, which celebrates its landmark silver jubilee 25th edition this year, has a special place in the history of Indian professional golf as it is the longest running tournament on the Indian domestic circuit and on the PGTI. The tournament is well-established as North-East India’s premier professional golf event in terms of the prize money on offer, the strong field it attracts every year, the top-class playing conditions and the high level of competition on display. IndianOil has reiterated its commitment to the growth of Indian professional golf by raising the prize purse of the event to an all-time high of INR 1 crore this year.

The strong support of PGTI’s Tour Partners all year round is helping elevate the stature of Indian professional golf. PGTI’s Tour Partners are Rolex, Amul, IndusInd Bank, Victorious Choice, Campa, Amrutanjan Electro Plus, Golf Plus Monthly and Golf Design India.

Yuvraj Sandhu, who has been at the top of the leaderboard from day one onwards, made a red-hot start in round three as he collected five birdies on the first seven holes where he drained three putts from a range of six to 10 feet. Yuvraj then went on to add another birdie on the Par-5 15th.

Yuvraj, the only player to cross INR 1 crore in season earnings on the PGTI so far this year, said, “I hit 17 greens in regulation for the second day in succession so my ball-striking continues to be solid. The putter also did its job. However, I missed a few four-footers for birdie on the back-nine that slowed down my progress a bit.

“I hold the record for the lowest winning total in Digboi which is 23-under. I would love to break that record this week but I need more putts to fall in the final round to achieve that number. The fact that I had a birdie opportunity on virtually every hole today and did not concede a single bogey also adds to my self-belief going into the final round,” added Sandhu, who finished runner-up in the last two PGTI events after losing out in successive playoffs.

Viraj Madappa, a winner on the PGTI earlier this year, has managed to make a mark in his first appearance at the Digboi Golf Links which also happens to be his first-ever trip to Assam. Viraj’s round featured a chip-in for eagle on the 11th, another exceptional chip that left him a tap-in birdie on the 14th, two more birdies and a bogey.

Saptak Talwar (72), who was second at the halfway stage, dropped to tied fifth at eight-under 208. Shivendra Singh Sisodia (70) joined Saptak in tied fifth place.

Defending champion Jamal Hossain (70) of Bangladesh ended the day in tied eighth place at five-under 211.