By Rahul Banerji
Rookie Kshitij Naveed Kaul of Delhi, in only his ninth event as a professional, displayed maturity beyond his years in a final round of 4-under-67 to win the Pune Open golf championship by one shot on Friday.
The 18-year-old’s run (69-67-66-67) at the Poona Club Golf Course saw him close the week with on15-under-269 and made him the third-youngest winner on the Tata Steel PGTI after Karandeep Kochhar and Shubhankar Sharma both of whom won as 17-year-olds.
Mysore’s Yashas Chandra (68-68-68-66) had the day’s best score of 5-under-66 to finish a close second at 14-under-270 at the Rs. 30 lakh event.
Kaul, the round three joint leader, struggled to achieve accuracy with tee shots. However, the former India no. 1 in the junior and amateur category, managed to salvage the day with some brilliant short play.
Solid short game
Outstanding chipping earned Kaul birdies from tough positions on the sixth, ninth and 12th holes even as he dropped a shot on the 11th.
The Delhi Golf Club pro then gave a glimpse of some top-class putting with birdies from 15 and 30 feet on the 14th and 15th respectively despite a couple of ordinary tee shots.
Kaul then showcased his temperament and nerves with the decisive birdie on the 18th where he found the green in two and two-putted to avoid a playoff with Chandra.
Kaul, who earned Rs. 4,84,950, climbed from fifth to third in the Tata Steel PGTI Order of Merit. His earnings for the season now read Rs. 11,59,650.
‘All over the place’
Kaul, who has two top-5s including a runner-up finish this season, said, “My hitting was all over the place today but I did really well within 100 yards of the green.
“My chipping and putting got me out of trouble on a number of occasions today. I attribute my win to good course management and perfect execution of my plans and strategy.
“On day one I incurred a two-shot penalty after hitting another player’s ball. But I didn’t let that error affect my thought process. I also finished with a flurry of birdies yesterday that helped my confidence. I think those were two important moments in the week for me.
“A win so early in my career is a huge morale-booster. I was encouraged by the presence of my mother and maternal grandfather during the tournament. I dedicate this win to an aunt of mine who passed away last week,” said Kshitij, a winner of four titles at the amateur level and 40 at the junior level.
Up the ranks
Chandra’s bogey-free 66 helped him gain two spots in the standings. The 2018 PGTI Emerging Player of the Year had taken the lead on the final day when he made his fifth birdie of the round on the 13th. He missed a hole-in-one by one foot on the 13th.
However, he slowed down thereafter with pars all the way till the end. He narrowly missed a birdie on the last as his putt stopped inches from the hole. A birdie there could’ve taken him into a playoff with Kaul.
Bengaluru’s Syed Saqib Ahmed (70) and round three joint leader Shankar Das (72) of Kolkata took a share of third place at 10-under-274.
Rashid trails leader by two
In Dhaka, Bangladesh,Rashid Khan narrowed closed in on the leader with a round to go in the $250,000 Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open, an Asian Tour event. Rashid, winner of two Asian Tour titles, but none since 2014, fired a 4-under 67 to get to 16-under 197 and two shots off the pace.
Overnight leader 20-year-old Thai Sadom Kaewkanjana closed in on an Asian Tour breakthrough win after signing for a 3-under 68 on Friday. Sadom, a former All India Amateur winner, is making his first start after coming through the Qualifying School last December. He is now 18-under 195 at the Kurmitola Golf Club.
Ajeetesh Sandhu returned the day’s best score of 65 that had six birdies, including four in a row to trail by six shots in lone third place.
Viraj Madappa (71) was 8-under after dropping two shots while Karandeep Kochhar (70) was T11 at 7-under.
Jeev in the mix
Jeev Milkha Singh (71) was T34 alongside Veer Ahlawat (74), while Honey Baisoya (72) was T41. Akshay Sharma (74) was T46, Abhijit Chadha (72) T53 and Aman Raj (76) T62.
Rashid said later, “I was a bit off today. I hit the ball bad. I didn’t take advantage of my birdie opportunities. But I finished well. I had an eagle on 14 and a birdie on 15. Overall, it was fine. I made a couple of up and downs. I was struggling to find fairways and greens.
“Sadom’s been playing very well. I hope to keep up my good performance and continue to do the same tomorrow. Hopefully I can change something.”
Added Sandhu, “The four birdies in a row today was the highlight for me. I missed the fifth one by a whisker but it’s alright. I am happy with the way I finished.
“I did pretty much the same that I have been doing last few weeks. The scores just didn’t come in last week but this week, I just managed to hit it a bit closer and dropped a couple more putts. It’s nothing really special that I have done.
“I have been bogey-free for the last 46 holes now. That’s always good. I will try and get aggressive from the first hole tomorrow. Everyone can score out there.”
Siddikur Rahman remained the highest-placed Bangladesh golfer with a flawless 68 to share fourth place with Australia’s Maverick Antcliff (69) on 202. Last year’s joint runner-up Jack Harrison of England was a further shot back in sixth following a 68.
Follow the Bangabandhu Open here: Leaderboard
Also read: Gallacher survives heat, quadruple bogey to walk away the winner
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