SCORESHEET

September 13th 2009, Chandigarh: Amandeep Johl of Chandigarh was crowned the champion at the PGTI Players Championship presented by Chandigarh Golf Club (an Aircel PGTI event) after he pipped Ashok Kumar in a playoff on Sunday. Amandeep (66, 66) and Ashok (67, 65) headed for a playoff as they were tied at four under 132 after the two
stipulated rounds (34 holes). Johl’s win on the first playoff hole (18th) at his home course, earned him his first title on the Aircel PGTI.

Gaurav Ghei, Harendra Gupta, Ranjit Singh, Rafick Ali Mollah and Kunal Bhasin were tied third with identical totals of two under 134.

Round two, which had only been partially completed on Saturday due to fading light, resumed on Sunday at 7 am.

Amandeep Johl (right) receiving the trophy

Amandeep Johl couldn’t have asked for a better start to his second round as he birdied the second, third and sixth to go three under. On the par three third, he hit an eight iron to within 15 feet of the hole and subsequently made the putt. However, a bogey on the eighth meant he made the turn at two under. Another bogey followed on the 10th but a chip-in from just off the green on the par five 13th fetched him a well-deserved eagle.

Two more bogeys on the 14th and 18th and a birdie on the 16th helped the 40-year-old veteran finish with a 66 in round two. Johl had to then battle it out in a playoff against Ashok Kumar, who joined him at the top of the leaderboard with a matching total of four under 132.

Amandeep’s drive on the first playoff hole, the par four 18th, landed in the rough on the right side even as Ashok found the rough on the opposite side. Thereafter, Amandeep’s approach shot just about overshot the green while Ashok chipped out to the edge of the water hazard on the right.

Ashok’s third shot landed on the green but was still 20 feet from the cup. Johl, an Asian Tour regular, then turned the tide with an excellent chip from just off the green that stopped a few inches short of the hole. While Ashok three-putted from 20 feet for a double bogey, Johl took home the winner’s cheque after sinking his putt for par.

Amandeep said, “This victory is very special for me because it’s my first in a long time and it was achieved at my home course. I enjoyed playing at home in the wet conditions. It was a testing week due to the tough and challenging conditions. But I think my years of experience in professional golf helped me in tackling these conditions. The victory is all the more sweeter because I have not been practicing too much in recent months since I had taken a break from golf to fulfill some other responsibilities.”

He added, “There were some crucial moments for me in round two. I chipped-in from just off the green for a crucial eagle on the 13th and then converted a tough 15 feet putt for birdie on the 16th. However, my short game did not seem to be clicking as I made four three-putts in round two. Nonetheless, a decent drive and a terrific chip shot on the first playoff hole got me home.”

Ashok Kumar fired seven birdies against four bogeys in round two to submit a card of 65 and therefore challenge Johl in a playoff. Ashok was on a rampage on his first nine (back nine) as he sank four birdies and a lone bogey to make the turn at three under. He continued the good work with a chip-in from 10 feet for birdie on the first hole.

The Delhi golfer then seemed to lose his way, making bogeys on the next two holes. On the second, he three-putted from 15 feet. Birdies on the sixth and eighth brought the 26-year-old right back into contention. He sank a 25-footer on the eighth. Ashok then found the rough and the bunker for a bogey on the ninth. He thus jeopardized his chances of finishing ahead of Amandeep and winning the title.

“I started well but ruined my chances with some poor golf on the second nine (front nine). My putting wasn’t up to the mark. I also could not fade the ball with my driver on the playoff hole and that turned out to be decisive at the end,” said Ashok.

Gaurav Ghei (66, 68) posted a 68 in round two to be tied third at two under 134. Chandigarh golfers Harendra Gupta (65, 69), the defending champion, and Ranjit Singh (67, 67) were also tied third along with Kolkata’s Rafick Ali Mollah (70, 64) and Kunal Bhasin (67, 67) of Australia.

Mukesh Kumar, Vinod Kumar, Mandeo Singh Pathania and Yusuf Ali shared eighth position at one under 135.

Delhi-based Kunal Balhara (77, 76), who finished tied 101st at 17 over 153, fired a hole-in-one on the eighth hole on Sunday. The 21-year-old used an eight iron on the 162-yard eighth hole.

Balhara said, “My shot on the eighth was in line of the flag and had a slight draw. It landed two feet from the pin and spun towards the left into the hole. I only realized that it was a hole-in-one when I found the ball in the hole.”