Mukesh Kumar's runner-up finish helps him climb back to the top of the PGTI Order of Merit
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Gurgaon, September 21, 2008: Jyoti Randhawa retained his DLF Masters crown when he edged out veteran Mukesh Kumar by one stroke at the DLF Golf & Country Club on Sunday. Randhawa shot a one under 71 in round four to total eight under 280 for the tournament. Mukesh Kumar, on the other hand produced a fabulous round of five under 67 to finish one stroke behind Randhawa at seven under 281.

Randhawa has now registered four wins out of four starts on the PGTI and has also climbed to 10th on the PGTI Order of Merit. Mukesh Kumar is the current leader on the PGTI Order of Merit as a result of his second place finish at the DLF Masters. He was third on the order of merit prior to the DLF Masters 2008.

Jyoti Randhawa (72, 68, 69, 71) recorded his first win since the 2007 Indian Open thanks to a solid final round of one under 71 at his home course. Randhawa began poorly with a double bogey on the second where he landed his tee shot in the left rough. He soon recovered by sinking a birdie on the third. The defending champion made another birdie on the ninth to make the turn at even par. He then made pars all the way till the 14th.

Mukesh Kumar in the meantime, had caught up with Randhawa as both had totals of seven under. Jyoti once again took the outright lead when he knocked down a birdie on the 15th. He slipped back into the joint lead with Mukesh for a brief period after dropping a bogey on the 17th and then sealed his win by making a 20 feet two-putt for birdie on the 18th.

Randhawa, elated after his long-awaited win said, "This win is of great significance for me because I have not been in the best of form recently. I think I was trying too hard to win in the early part of the tournament and that's why I was not at the top of my game. But today I felt great in the morning while practicing and knew that a solid performance was round the corner.

"Mukesh gave me a tough fight and I did get a little nervy towards the end. But all said and done I am glad that I came through. This win is a good return to form for me."

Randhawa added, "I always feel highly motivated when I am playing in India because people expect a lot from me. At DLF the home course advantage also weighed in my favour."

Mukesh Kumar (72, 72, 70, 67) ended a creditable second after shooting the day's best round. The four time winner on the PGTI in the 2007-08 season began his round with a birdie on the first. He then sank two more birdies on the sixth and seventh to make the turn at three under. Thereafter, back-to-back birdies on the 10th and 11th brought him on level terms with Randhawa at seven under.

Mukesh dropped back into second when he bogeyed the 12th. He then birdied the 15th to be the joint leader once again. The professional from Mhow parred the last three holes even as Randhawa shot ahead with two birdies and a bogey on his last four holes.

Mukesh said, "I played a good round today as I hit all the fairways. However, my putting let me down because I missed two three feet putts for birdie and a four feet putt for eagle on the sixth. I gave myself a number of chances but could not convert them. The biggest disappointment was my third shot on the 18th. I hit a chip shot from the left edge of the 18th green which went over the green. Had I hit that shot closer to the pin, I would have had a great birdie opportunity. A birdie at that stage would have put the pressure back on Randhawa."

Mukesh added, "Even though I lost out on the title, it feels great to be back on top in the PGTI Order of Merit."

Ashok Kumar (72, 73, 70, 68) capped his week with a brilliant 68 to finish third at five under 283. Ashok sank two eagles and four birdies while he dropped strokes with two bogeys and a double bogey.

Gaganjeet Bhullar (67, 72, 72, 75) and Shamim Khan (72, 70, 69, 75) were both tied fourth at two under 286.

Arjun Singh (71, 72, 70, 78) secured seventh place with an overall score of three over 291.

Rahul Ganapathy (73, 73, 76, 74) and Harmeet Kahlon's (68, 76, 74, 78) matching totals of eight over 296 helped them finish tied 15th.

Harendra Gupta (71, 74, 74, 79) was two strokes behind Ganapathy in tied 22nd place.

Digvijay Singh (73, 74, 77, 78) ended the tournament at 14 over 302 and secured a share of 32nd place.

In the team championship, Ashok Kumar (professional), Mukesh Kumar (professional) and Mr. Gagan Verma's (amateur) team emerged victorious with a net score of 133.

The team comprising of Pappan (professional), Chiragh Kumar (professional) and Mr. Varun Verma (amateur) came in second with a net score of 135.

In the closest to the pin contest for the amateurs, Mr. Sharad Misra emerged victorious as his tee shot landed merely four feet nine inches short of the pin on the par three 11th hole.

Amateur golfer Ms. Neelam Pratap Rudy won the longest drive contest for amateurs on the 12th hole. Her drive measured 252 yards.

The straight drive contest was also at stake for the amateurs on the fifth hole. Mr. Steward Baker won this competition as his drive was just four feet five inches away from the centre of the fairway.


Leaderboard

280      -           Jyoti Randhawa (DLF) 72, 68, 69, 71

281      -           Mukesh Kumar (Mhow) 72, 72, 70, 67

283      -           Ashok Kumar (Delhi) 72, 73, 70, 68

286      -           Gaganjeet Bhullar (Kapurthala) 67, 72, 72, 75; Shamim Khan (Delhi) 72,

                       70, 69, 75