By Rahul Banerji
Towering Delhi golfer Harshjeet Singh Sethie saved his best for the last, setting up a playoff and then out-foxing the experienced Om Prakash Chouhan to land his maiden title in Coimbatore on Friday.
Sethie’s 5-under 67, an eventful final day’s low score, bought him level with Order of Merit leader Chouhan on 13 under par 275 before he made sure of the Rs 15 lakh Coimbatore Open winner’s cheque on the second playoff hole.
For the 6-foot, 7-inch tall Sethie, 21, victory at the Rs 1 crore event presented by KGiSL at the Coimbatore Golf Club was also a huge boost on the Tata Steel PGTI Rankings, taking him from 81st to 11th place.
Chouhan (67-71-68-69), however, consolidated his lead on the money list with his runner-up finish that brought in a cheque worth Rs. 10 lakh.
Sethie (69-67-72-67), fifth overnight and four shots off the lead, began his day with a bogey-birdie sequence before an eagle on hole 11 and birdies on 9, 10 and 13.
Booming drives
The Delhi Golf Club professional drove the par-4 11th green before sinking a 15-footer for his eagle-two. After bogey on 14, Sethie drove the green on 15 as well to set up birdie before taking the clubhouse lead on 13 under 275.
In his third season now as a pro, Sethie then saw Chouhan who had five birdies and two bogeys in his 69 on Friday pull level at the top of the standings after starting tied for second place.
After both players made pars on the first playoff hole, the second saw Sethie unleash yet another sensational drive on the par-4 18th that found the green over 395 yards.
It left Sethie with a 15-feet eagle putt and he was finally able to seal the upset win with his second go for birdie even as Chouhan, the favourite going into the playoff, missed his birdie putt from six feet.
Om Prakash has now lost two playoffs out of two, both at Coimbatore. The 2023 PGTI season also got its tenth winner in as many events.
An elated Harshjeet said, “This week I drove and putted really well. In the playoff, I knew ‘OP’ would hit a wedge into the green so I could end it with one good drive.
“I went for it as the adrenaline too played its part. I got the just reward for my aggressive approach as I drove the 18th green for the first time this week.
Early struggles
“I was struggling with my game before I went and consulted my coach Jesse Grewal in Chandigarh during the off-season.
“While in Chandigarh, where I spent a lot of time over the last three months, I worked hard on my fitness, swing and mindset that helped turn things around for me.
“Kept my focus on the process. I played it shot by shot last week in Chennai and that worked for me. This win means a lot as it came in such tough conditions and I won in a playoff against a far more experienced opponent.”
Sri Lanka’s N. Thangaraja (71), Bangalore duo Mari Muthu R. (71) and Aryan Roopa Anand (74) and Delhi-based Saptak Talwar (73) shared third place on 8-under 280.
Gurgaon’s Manish Thakran, the third-round leader by two shots, finished 10th on four-under 284.
Final top five
275: Harshjeet Singh Sethie (69-67-72-67) – winner in Playoff; Om Prakash Chouhan (67-71-68-69)
280: N. Thangaraja (66-68-75-71); Mari Muthu R. (70-71-68-71); Saptak Talwar (66-69-72-73); Aryan Roopa Anand (66-68-72-74)
Also read: Thakran grabs sole lead at Coimbatore, Chouhan, Anand in chase
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