Teen Sensation Manoj S Takes Command at PGTI Trident Open
In a stunning display of golfing prowess, 17-year-old Bengaluru prodigy Manoj S has seized the lead after the third round of the PGTI Rs 1-crore Trident Open being played at the prestigious Chandigarh Golf Club. The young golfer carded an impressive five-under-67 in the third round to reach an overall score of nine-under-207, putting him in prime position to create history.
At just 17 years, seven months and 26 days old, Manoj is now on the verge of becoming the youngest player ever to win as a professional on the Professional Golf Tour of India. This potential record-breaking achievement would see him surpass the current record held by Chandigarh's own Shubhankar Sharma, who won the PGTI Cochin masters in 2014 at the age of 17 years, eight months and 22 days.
Masterful Third Round Performance
Manoj, who began the day in tied-third position, demonstrated remarkable composure and skill throughout his third round. He started strongly with birdies on the second and fourth holes, though encountered a minor setback with a bogey on the fifth. Undeterred, the young golfer bounced back with birdies on the seventh and ninth holes to complete the front-nine with an excellent score of three-under-33.
The back-nine presented its own challenges and triumphs. After a bogey on the 11th hole, Manoj displayed exceptional mental fortitude by sinking three consecutive birdies on the next three holes. The birdie on the 14th proved particularly memorable when his tee shot hit the flag, providing what he described as a "huge boost" to his round. Despite another bogey on the 15th, he finished strong with a birdie on the final hole.
Confident Approach to Historic Opportunity
Speaking after his stellar performance, Manoj attributed his success to consistent form and outstanding ball-striking in recent weeks. "I've come into this event with a decent run of form over the past few weeks all thanks to my outstanding ball-striking," he stated. "I've been hitting a lot of regulations that have created chances for me. Today also I was very consistent with my hitting."
The young golfer appears to be handling the pressure of potentially making history with remarkable maturity. "I'll just treat the final round as another round of golf and try not to get ahead of myself on the final day," Manoj revealed. "This approach has helped me so far. I'll look to continue the same."
Chasing Pack and Tournament Standings
Hot on Manoj's heels is overnight co-leader Manu Gandas, who sits in second position with a third round score of three-under-69 and overall score of eight-under-208. The competition remains fierce with several golfers tied for third position at five-under-211, including:
- Chandigarh golfers Yuvraj Sandhu
- Chandigarh's Akshay Sharma
- Shubham Jaglan
- Shaurya Bhattacharya
- Mohd Azhar
The stage is set for an electrifying final round at the Chandigarh Golf Club, where golf enthusiasts will witness whether the teenage sensation can maintain his lead and rewrite the PGTI record books. All eyes will be on Manoj as he attempts to convert his one-stroke advantage into a historic victory that would cement his place in Indian golfing history.
