By Rahul Banerji
Om Prakash Chouhan produced a rock-solid final-round performance of 3-under 69 to win the Rs. 50 lakh J&K Open at the Jammu Tawi Golf Course last week.
Ahmedabad-based Chouhan came home with a total of 11 under 277 to emerge the victor by three shots.
Chouhan (71-70-67-69), who picked up his second title of the season and a prize money cheque worth Rs. 7,50,000, further extended his lead in the Tata Steel PGTI Ranking with season’s earnings of Rs. 79.03 lakh.
Om Prakash now enjoys a lead of more than Rs. 23 lakh over his nearest rival Aman Raj on the money list.
Chandigarh’s Akshay Sharma (68-71-72-69) also posted a 69 on day four to finish runner-up on 8-under 280.
Hot run
Akshay has now registered three consecutive top-3 finishes and he climbs one spot to eighth in the PGTI’s merit list.
Chouhan, overnight leader by one shot, maintained his grip on proceedings for the first half of the day having recorded three birdies till the 10th hole as he sank eight to 10 footers with relative ease.
The 33-year-old, who has been based in Ahmedabad for the last couple of years, was in a spot of bother when he dropped a double-bogey after a three-putt on 11 but he immediately got back in control with another 10-foot birdie conversion on 12.
A bogey on 16 also failed to affect Chouhan’s round as he once again bounced back with birdies on the last two holes including a 20-foot conversion on the 17th.
Chouhan said, “Today I didn’t try anything fancy and just focused on playing regulation golf. I thought, let the others try to catch up with me.
Good comebacks
“Importantly, I didn’t have any anxious moments because I made good comebacks every time I dropped shots. That helped me play with a relaxed mind.
“It was a delight to play at the Jammu Tawi Golf Course and I look forward to coming back here next year.”
Runner-up Akshay Sharma’s last round featured five birdies and two bogeys.
Delhi-based Kapil Kumar (seven-under 281) and Harshjeet Singh Sethie (five-under 283) finished third and fourth respectively.
Final top four
277: Om Prakash Chouhan (71-70-67-69)
280: Akshay Sharma (68-71-72-69)
281: Kapil Kumar (69-68-72-72)
283: Harshjeet Singh Sethie (69-71-73-70)
Also read: Kapil Kumar makes a charge in J&K Open round two at JTGC
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