Sandhu's resilient display earns him DLF Masters 2012 crown

The two golfers finished with identical totals of six-under 282 before heading for the playoff.

Ajeetesh (70-66-70-76) started the day as the firm favourite as he enjoyed a six-stroke lead after round three and his birdie on the third hole today further consolidated his lead.

But Ajeetesh then struck a lean patch from the fifth to the 16th hole, where he dropped three double bogeys, two bogeys against one birdie, to squandered away his huge lead.

The 24-year-old found the trees on the fifth and seventh and did not have a swing on both occasions. This resulted in double bogeys on both the holes. Another bogey on the eighth meant he made the turn at four-over for the day.

Sandhu's birdie on the 11th was neutralized by his third double bogey of the day on the 12th. The wiry Ajeetesh, who was one of the top junior golfers in the country before turning professional, found the rough on the 12th and then produced a poor shot from the bunker.

Ajeetesh's title hopes were all but dashed when he bogeyed the 16th hole as Jyoti Randhawa enjoyed a one shot lead at that point.

However, he came roaring back thereafter with a birdie-birdie finish on the 17th and 18th holes to take the match to a playoff.

He sank a 10-footer for birdie on the 17th and made a two-putt from the edge of the green for birdie on the 18th.

Sandhu prevailed over the experienced Randhawa with a birdie on the first playoff hole (18th). Sandhu hit a terrific second shot (4-iron) from the centre of the fairway that landed on the edge of the green of the par-five 18th.

Randhawa found the green in three shots after his tee shot landed in the trees. Jyoti narrowly missed his 20-feet birdie putt while Ajeetesh two-putted for birdie to seal his maiden professional title. MORE