Kensville Open throws up yet another maiden PGTI title winner

Kensville Open winner Tapy Ghai (centre) receives his trophy and cheque from (left to right) Sampath Chari , tournament director, PGTI, and Sameer Sinha, Munish Patell and Lokinder Malik of Kensville Golf & Country Club. Image courtesy PGTI.

By Rahul Banerji

In a season marked by a rush of first-time winners, Tapy Ghai of Gurgaon joined the party with a two-shot victory at the Kensville Open in Ahmedabad on Friday.

Ghai produced a fiery last round of 67 to set up his maiden title. The 22-year-old in his second season as a professional totalled 10-under-278 for the week at the Kensville Golf & Country Club.

Veteran Mukesh Kumar of Mhow was second on eight-under-280 after a final round of three-under-69 at the Rs. 40 lakh event.

Ghai (69-70-72-67), overnight tied second two shots off the lead, produced six birdies and a bogey to turn the tables on his rivals including overnight leader Akshay Sharma.

The win helped Ghai climb from 44th  to 16th place in the PGTI Order of Merit as he took home a cheque of Rs. 6,46,600.

Ghai, who plays at the Classic Golf & Country Club, struck three birdies on the front nine even as Sharma dropped down the leaderboard with two bogeys.

On the back nine, Ghai had a hat-trick of birdies on the 12th, 13th and 14th holes. He sank a 15-footer on the 12th and made an exceptional up and down from the bunker on the 14th.

Under pressure

Ghai said, “I was a little under pressure after a two-shot swing in Mukesh’s favour on the 16th. But I felt I handled the pressure well on the last two holes

“At the start of the round, I knew I had to grab all my chances today as Mukesh and Akshay were going to be tough competitors.

“That’s what I managed to do well. After I found the last green with my second shot, I knew the title was in the bag.

“This win has given me loads of confidence. I’m certain that my career-graph will only go upwards from here.”

Noida’s Amardip Malik matched the tournament’s best score of 66 to finish tied third at seven-under-281 alongside Akshay Sharma.

Lahiri off target

In Napa, California, Anirban Lahiri made an indifferent start to the new PGA Tour season with a one-over par 73 in the $6.4 million Safeways Open.

Lahiri had a birdie early on was unable to put together a consistent round with a raft of birdies and bogeys even as a bunch of rookies broke away at the front.

Straka in his first start on the PGA Tour birdied the final three holes for a bogey-free 9-under 63 for the sole lead.

Another rookie, Chase Wright, carded 64 while veteran Phil Mickelson reeled off six straight birdies en route to a 7-under 65.

All 21 PGA Tour rookies are in the field and four inside the top five after round one.
Mickelson made six consecutive birdies from the ninth to 14th en route to a 65 and was one short of his Tour record for most consecutive birdies.

Also read: Career-best round gives Akshay Sharma breakthrough win at QA InfoTech Open

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