Team India slip at WCG as Shamim, Tvesa emerge winners at home

By Rahul Banerji

Anirban Lahiri and Gaganjeet Bhullar dropped to s share of 11^th place at the ISPS Handa Melbourne World Cup of Golf even as Belgium’s Thomas Pieters and Thomas Detry opened a five-shot lead over Mexico, Korea and Italy at the Metropolitan Golf Club on Saturday. 

In Hong Kong, meanwhile, Shubhankar Sharma continued his mid-table climb, sharing 12^th position on six under par 204 after a three-under round on the day.

Arjun Atwal was T30 on four under, Ajeetesh Sandhu and Shiv Kapur T34 on three under while Khalin Joshi was T68 on two over par 212.

Shamim, Tvesa win

At home, Shamim Khan successfully defended his IndianOil Servo Masters title on Saturday at the Digboi Golf Links in Assam.

The Delhi veteran got the better of Noida’s Gaurav Pratap Singh on the third extra hole to retain his crown won last year in similar circumstances.

In Lucknow, Teresa Malik tightened her hold on the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour and the Order of Merit with a birdie-birdie finish in the 16^thleg of the season.

At the Palms Golf Club and Resort Tvesa carded a one-over 71 for a total of level par 210 that was good enough for the title.

Mixed fortunes

In Melbourne, however, Team India mixed five birdies with three birdies on the day to drop eight places on the standings from tied third after the second day.

After being just one of four teams to break par in Friday’s foursomes under difficult conditions along with India, the Belgians followed up with a 9-under 63 in the four-ball format.

After seeing off an early charge by Team Australia, Belgium regained the lead by picking up five shots over a four-hole span thanks to an eagle on the par-5 ninth hole by Detry and three birdies by Pieters.

“I kind of wish the season wasn’t ending now because I’m actually playing really good right now,” Pieters said.

Confidence high

“Hopefully I can take that into next year. I can just feel my confidence growing the last four, five tournaments.”

Italy emerged as Belgium’s top challenger after rattling off four birdies in a row but faltered down the stretch with a double-bogey a bogey to finish with a 6-under 66.

But Andrea Pavan and Renato Paratore see plenty of positives returning to the foursomes format for the final round.

“I feel like the golf course sets up nicely,” Pavan said.

“I don’t have to hit many tee shots tomorrow and I can just rely on my iron game and he can have a lot of — hopefully I can give him a lot of birdie looks. Yeah, we’ll just look forward to that.”

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