V Soft Titans and Ardee Iron Eagles lead T9 Challenge knockout qualifiers

The round-robin stage of the T9 Challenge concluded at Boulder Hills Golf and Country Club, with V Soft Titans topping Pool A and Ardee Iron Eagles leading Pool B. Eight teams secured knockout berths after a closely contested group phase

Hyderabad: The round-robin stage of the T9 Challenge, organised by the T Golf Foundation at the picturesque Boulder Hills Golf and Country Club, has drawn to a close after a hard-fought campaign across both pools.

With each of the 12 competing teams having played 20 matches, the group phase delivered tight finishes, half-point margins and a clear picture of the eight sides now advancing to the knockout stage, the top four from each pool.

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Pool A was decided by the finest of margins at the top. V Soft Titans finished first with 12 points, the product of 10 wins and four halved matches across their 20 fixtures. Hot on their heels were Bunker Busters, who matched them for wins but were edged into second on 11.5 points, with a single half-point separating the top two after a full round robin.

Par Timers sealed third place with 11 points, putting together a steady and disciplined run of nine wins and four halves to comfortably stay inside the qualification zone.

The final knockout spot from Pool A went to Dasos by Mahi, who balanced eight wins and eight losses, with four halved matches nudging them to 10 points. Just outside the cut, Rajapushpa Invicta (eight points) and Sree Metrix Eagles (7.5 points) bowed out of contention, having been unable to string together the consistency needed in a demanding group.

If Pool A was about fine margins, Pool B belonged to Ardee Iron Eagles, who emerged as the standout side of the entire round robin.

Their 13 points, built on a tournament-best 12 wins, saw them top not just their pool but the overall group-stage standings, a statement of intent heading into the knockouts.

Chamundi Boulder Hills Tiger secured second place with 10.5 points from nine wins, holding off a congested chase for the remaining berths.

Behind them, Fairway Warriors and Hyderabad Golfers United both finished level on 10 points but arrived there by very different routes. Fairway Warriors did so through an all-or-nothing campaign of 10 wins and 10 losses with no halved matches, while Hyderabad Golfers United produced a more measured run featuring six halves alongside seven wins.

Both progressed as the third and fourth qualifiers from Pool B.

The cruellest exit belonged to Novotel Stars, who fell agonisingly short on 9.5 points, just half a point shy of a knockout place.

Jaagruthi Jaaguars completed the pool with seven points.