Yashas Chandra Takes Lead in TATA Steel Tour Championship 2024

Udayan Mane Trails by One Shot; Sudhir Sharma and N Thangaraja in Third

Key Points:

• Yashas Chandra leads with 14-under 199 after a flawless 66
• Udayan Mane sits in second place at 13-under 200
• Sudhir Sharma and N Thangaraja tied for third at 12-under 201

JAMSHEDPUR – Yashas Chandra M S of Mysuru surged to the top of the leaderboard with a superb five-under 66 in the third round of the TATA Steel Tour Championship 2024, played at the Beldih and Golmuri Golf Courses.

Yashas Chandra’s Stellar Performance

Yashas (69-64-66) climbed four spots from overnight fifth to lead with a total of 14-under 199. His front-nine was exceptional, featuring four birdies, including two long-range putts and two on Par-5s. On the back-nine, he added another birdie but maintained par throughout, ensuring a bogey-free round.

Delighted with his performance, Yashas said, “I struck the ball well today and hit it close on both courses. The biggest challenge here is adjusting to the greens’ speed on both courses. Tomorrow, I need to stay aggressive as this is a low-scoring track.”

Close Contest for Top Spots

Two-time TATA Steel Tour Championship winner Udayan Mane (67-65-68) delivered a steady 68 to hold the second position at 13-under 200. Mane showed consistency with four birdies against one bogey but missed several putts that could have boosted his score.

Sudhir Sharma (67) of Greater Noida and Sri Lankan golfer N Thangaraja (70) were tied for third at 12-under 201.

Highlights of the Day

• Chandigarh’s Yuvraj Sandhu recorded a tournament-low of eight-under 63, placing him tied sixth at 10-under 203 with Veer Ahlawat (68), the PGTI Ranking leader.
• Bengaluru’s C Muniyappa aced the seventh hole during his round of 69, finishing tied eighth at nine-under 204.
• Defending champion Gaganjeet Bhullar (67) was tied 10th at eight-under 205.

Local Players’ Performances

Jamshedpur-based professionals struggled in the tournament. Karan Taunk (three-over 216), Kurush Heerjee (11-over 224), and Digvijay Singh (15-over 228) were tied 49th, 56th, and 61st, respectively.

The event, the richest on the PGTI circuit with a prize pool of INR 3 crore, continues to draw excitement as players gear up for the final round.