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November 21st 2009, NOIDA: Gaurav Pratap Singh registered his first professional win after a nail-biting finish on the final day of the ONGC Masters 2009 at the Noida Golf Course on Saturday. Gaurav, who plays most of his golf at the Noida Golf Course, came through on his home turf despite firing a three over 75 in the final round. He ended the tournament with a total of three under 285. Vijay Kumar of Lucknow finished a close second at two under 286 while Delhi’s Gaurav Ghei was a further stroke back in third place.

Gaurav Pratap Singh, winner of ONGC Masters 2009

Gaurav Pratap Singh (70, 70, 70, 75) enjoyed a comfortable lead for most part of the day even though he had two experienced campaigners such as Vijay Kumar and Gaurav Ghei on his tail. Singh, determined to bag his first professional crown, made a solid start, making pars on the first six holes. He then pulled his drive to the left on the seventh and subsequently three-putted to drop a double bogey. A birdie followed on the very next hole.

Gaurav’s poor hitting form on the final day resulted in his first bogey of the day on the 11th. The 25-year-old then earned a valuable birdie on the par five 14th, where he made a nice recovery thanks to a great chip shot despite going well past the green with his second shot.

Gaurav Pratap, the local favourite, led by three strokes from Gaurav Ghei after the 16th even as Vijay Kumar was a further stroke behind Ghei.

The leader then three-putted from nine feet to make bogey on the 17th, while Gaurav Ghei and Vijay Kumar picked up birdies on the same hole. So the leader group approached the 18th tee with Gaurav Pratap Singh at four under, Gaurav Ghei at three under and Vijay Kumar at two under.

Singh then found the water hazard with his tee shot on the 18th but held on to his nerve to as he came up with an excellent nine iron third shot that landed 15 feet from the pin and helped him make a good bogey for victory.

Gaurav Ghei on the other hand, missed the fairway and an up and down to make double bogey on the final hole and thus finished third. Meanwhile, Vijay Kumar missed his 30-feet birdie putt on the 18th by a whisker and had to settle for second place. Vijay would have headed for a playoff with Gaurav Pratap Singh had he made a birdie on the closing hole.

“I didn’t expect it to get so close at the end. I was targeting a score of 70 today but my poor driving let me down. However, I have no complaints. I finally registered my first win and cannot describe how good it feels to be holding that trophy. I have worked really hard for this and will cherish this moment for a long time to come. I dedicate this win to my parents who have always encouraged me to scale greater heights and my coach Kel Llewellyn whose guidance has made a world of difference to my game,” said Gaurav Pratap Singh.

He added, “I did not have a great score but the highlight of my round was that I managed to get out of a few tricky situations today.”

Vijay Kumar’s (74, 72, 69, 71) final round of one under 71, featured five birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey while Gaurav Ghei’s (74, 72, 70, 71) last round of 71 was marked by four birdies, a bogey and a double bogey.

Vipin Kumar Sharma of the Noida Golf Course finished fourth at two over 290.

Vivek Bhandari, Ranjit Singh and defending champion Shamim Khan secured tied fifth place at three over 291.


Courtesy: Nikhil Kalaan