By Rahul Banerji
Overnight leader Chikkarangappa S. shot a three-under 69 to win the lucrative Tata Steel PGTI’s season-ending Tour Championship by two shots in Jamshedpur on Saturday.
The Bangalore golfer, who fired a 10-under round on Moving Day to grab the lead was never challenged on the final day of the Rs. 3 crore event at the Beldih and Golmuri Golf Courses in the Steel City.
Order of Merit leader Manu Gandas took tied sixth place at the season’s showpiece event to emerge champion in the 2022 Tata Steel PGTI Rankings, the PGTI said.
In doing so, the Gurgaon golfer who had a record-setting six wins for the season, also earned himself a newly-announced membership on the DP World (European) Tour.
Chikka (66-71-62-69), who totalled 20-under 268 for the week, took home Rs. 45 lakh for his effort at the richest-ever event on the PGTI.
It was the 29-year-old’s 15th title on the domestic PGTI and 16th professional win in all.
Shiv Kapur (64-69-70-67), Shamim Khan (71-67-67-65) and Veer Ahlawat (67-71-67-65) shared second place on 18-under 270.
Gandas (66-68-68-70) topped the Order of Merit with a tied sixth finish on 16-under 272 at the Tour Championship to close the season with record earnings of Rs. 88.50 lakh.
Money record
It was the highest ever for a PGTI season and Gandas topped the money list by a fair distance, breaking Rashid Khan’s record for season’s earnings of Rs. 66.27 lakh set in 2019.
Gandas, who had turned pro back in 2015 posted a total of 13 top-10s in the year. Chandigarh’s Yuvraj Singh Sandhu finished second on the PGTI Rankings with season’s earnings of Rs. 70.99 lakh.
Chikka was in control for much of the day as he put together five birdies against a bogey over the first 13 holes thanks to his iron play and wedge shots.
The lead briefly came under threat when he dropped a shot on the back nine and Khalin Joshi made a charge with four birdies just around then to close the gap to one shot.
Khalin though slipped out of contention with a bogey and double-bogey on the last two holes to finish tied sixth as Chikka marched to his first title in Jamshedpur after having finished runner-up in the city twice before.
Chikka said, “I had things under control but when I saw the leaderboard after 16 I realised Khalin was just one behind me, I was a little surprised.
Crucial putts
“But then I just played my game, found the fairways, went for the pins and made the crucial par putts. Khalin’s bogey on 17 gave me some breathing space.
“My driving and iron play was great through the week. I also putted well as I changed the stick this week after struggling on the greens last week in Kolkata.
“I went back to a putter that I had played with for a long time and made some clutch putts like on the 17th today.
“I meditate a lot so that helps me keep my calm in pressure situations on the golf course. It helps me focus and keep distractions away.
“It’s been tough for me as I lost my mother earlier this year and wasn’t really enjoying my golf. But I managed to stay the course as my mother always wanted me to play golf. I dedicate this win to her.
“I would like to thank Tata Steel for staging this landmark event. This win gives me a huge boost for 2023. I feel it’s high time I win an international event,” added Chikka.
High honour
The talented Bangalorean is now ranked joint second in the number of wins on the PGTI along with Shamim Khan. Mukesh Kumar leads the list with 20.
Kapur, (67), Ahlawat (65) and Shamim (65) had bogey-free final rounds to end the week two shots behind the winner.
Jyoti Randhawa was tied 10th on 14-under 274, S.S.P. Chawrasia was T16 on 12-under 276, and Gaganjeet Bhullar was T22 on 10-under 278.
Defending champion Udayan Mane was tied 34th on five-under 283 and Jeev Milkha Singh was tied 58th at three-over 291.
Jamshedpur-based professionals Karan Taunk and Kurush Heerjee finished tied 54th at two-over 290.
Bhati is Emerging Player
Eighteen-year-old Arjun Bhati of Greater Noida won the PGTI Emerging Player of the Year title with season earnings of Rs. 16,38,310, the highest among the rookies.
Arjun, who was tied 43rd on two-under 286 at the season-ending event, took 25th place on the Order of Merit with two top-10s in the season including a third-place finish at the Gurgaon Challenge.
Also read: Chikka turns Tour C’ship upside down with 10-under round
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