By Rahul Banerji
Resplendent in bright orange trousers, Chikkarangappa S. turned in a flawless final round of six-under-65 to outclass the field and emerge winner by two shots on 20-under-par 264 at the PGTI’s season-opener, the Rs. 40 lakh Golconda Masters powered by Telangana Tourism and Incredible India in Hyderabad on Saturday.
It was history being made in domestic professional golf as Chikka became the first to pick up Official Golf World Ranking (OGWR) points, the top five finishers all gaining in sequence 5 points (winner), 3 points (runner-up), 2 points (third place), 1.6 points for 4th place and 1.2 points for fifth.
On the rise
Chikka’s career-graph has been on the upswing since he ended a two-year title-drought on the PGTI last November which he followed up with a runner-up finish at an Asian Tour event in Mauritius that helped him seal his Asian card.
The 25-year-old from Bangalore then posted another second-place finish at the PGTI’s season-ending event in December before achieving his 12th career at the Hyderabad Golf Club.
Patna’s Aman Raj produced the day’s best round of seven-under-64 to finish joint runner-up on 18-under-266 along with Bengaluru’s M Dharma (69).
Quick start
Chikkarangappa (65-64-70-65), tied second two off the lead overnight made a fast start on Saturday with birdies on his opening two holes. That break gave him the lead as overnight leader and fellow-Bangalorean Dharma, dropped a shot on the second hole.
Chikka then added a further two birdies before making the turn for home and when he gained even further with birdies on the 11th and 12th holes, the two-time Asian Development Tour winner had all but sealed the win.
He was thereafter to make pars all the way till the end for a clinical finish as his rivals struggled to play catch up. The Asian Tour regular climbed well into the world’s top 400 with his 5 OGWR points and also went to the top of the Order of Merit with earnings of Rs. 6,46,600 from the season-opener.
‘Outstanding week’
Chikka said later, “I had an outstanding week with as many as 28 birdies. I attribute my performance to my much-improved ball-striking. My tee shots and approach shots were terrific today.
“I really wanted to finish well at the HGC as my previous best here had been 10th at the inaugural edition. That thought motivated me to give it my best today since I also knew that I would need a bogey-free effort.
“The relatively short birdie putts on the front nine eased the pressure. After my sixth birdie on the 12th, I felt I needed two more birdies to seal it because I didn’t want a close finish or a playoff. I didn’t manage those birdies despite trying hard but I still played well on the final stretch to keep my lead.
“The supportive crowd kept me going. The huge gallery inspired me to try a fancy second shot on the 15th which came off just as I had intended it to. I landed the ball on the rock beside the green and the ball deflected back on to the green to set up a two-putt for par.
‘History’
“The win at the Jeev Milkha Singh Invitational in Chandigarh in November last year just got me on a roll and put my career back on track. I’ve been playing some of my best golf since then. This win serves as a perfect start to the season. I’m delighted to be the winner of the PGTI’s first ever event with world ranking points. This will go down in history.”
Aman Raj gained six spots from his overnight tied eighth after an error-free fourth round of 64.
Dharma, third round leader by two shots, fell to a tie for second after a 69 that featured four birdies and two bogeys.
Chandigarh’s Karandeep Kochhar (69) took fourth place on 16-under-268 while the trio of defending champion Udayan Mane of Ahmedabad, Gurgaon-based rookie Priyanshu Singh and Delhi’s Honey Baisoya shared fifth place on 15-under-269. All walk away with OGWR points from the week.
Also read: Singh takes Q School honours as 41 earn PGTI full cards
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