Kemmer nicks it at the last, Arjun Bhati is top Indian at ADT event

By Rahul Banerji

Dodge Kemmer fired a brilliant last round of six-under 66 to register a three-shot win at the Gurgaon Challenge Tata Steel PGTI–ADT at the Classic course on Friday.

The American topped the field on 23-under 265 with his final day charge, the PGTI said

Thailand’s Chanat Sakulpolaphaisan (68) took second place on 20-under 268 at the $75,000 event jointly sanctioned by the PGTI and Asian Development Tour

Seventeen-year-old rookie Arjun Bhati, playing only his second event after turning professional, had the best home finish with a strong third place on 18-under 270.

Bhati, who trains at the IGPN Academy under Monish Bindra, had rounds of 70, 66, 68 and 66 for his impressive aggregate.

Arjun’s final round of 66, along with Kemmer’s card, was the day’s joint best score.

Kemmer (67-66-66-66), one shot off the lead after round three, hit a third straight 66 in a bogey-free run to come home the winner on the most windy day of the week.

Early mover

The 34-year-old Dodge, who had almost missed his tee-off in round three after having trouble finding transport to the course, took the lead early in the day.

Birdies on the third and fourth holes handed him the edge even as overnight leader Rory Hie of Indonesia carded a double bogey on the third to drop down the leaderboard.

Kemmer, who turned professional in 2010, then pushed ahead with crucial birdies on seven and eight. He chipped out from the trees on the seventh before sinking a six-footer.

Dodge made a long conversion on 13 for another birdie before driving it close to the green on 15 to pick up his sixth shot of the day.

Asian Tour regular Kemmer’s success ratified his decision to stay on for the event after last week’s The DGC Open presented by Mastercard, where he finished joint 49^th.

Good call

“It was a great decision!” said Kemmer.

He added, “I like being in India, it was an easy choice.

“Obviously, a win is always good for the confidence and gets me in a good place on the ADT list in case I need that to stay on the Asian Tour next year.

“I saw on the forecast it was going to be windy and I noticed a lot of the pins yesterday and they were definitely the hardest of the week so I didn’t have a number in mind or expectations.

“But I knew that scores would probably be higher, just with the wind and the pins, and so probably played a little more conservative if anything into the greens.

“That definitely paid off as I didn’t have any bogeys, which is a great way to have a final round.

“The birdies on the seventh and eighth were crucial. I got out of trouble on the seventh and that was good for my momentum. The course is a bit more open from the 13^th onwards.

“So from that point I decided to keep playing aggressively as I knew there were birdies out there and I had to accelerate,” said Dodge, who resides in San Francisco and has won four times around the world .

Those results include two Qualifying School events and one each on the Japan Challenge Tour and a mini tour in England.

Chanat (66-67-67-68), tied for third overnight shot a flawless 68 in round four to rise one spot to second place. He chipped in for birdie on the fifth.

Proud rookie

Bhati (70-66-68-66) mixed seven birdies with a bogey on the day. He began with a 30-foot birdie conversion on the first hole that set up the round for him.

Arjun said, “I’m very proud of my effort this week. Scoring 18-under is a huge confidence booster for me. It’s a dream start to my career. I putted really well this week.”

This was Bhati’s second professional appearance after the Players Championship at Kolkata in March where he finished in 33rd place.

Hie, leader for the first three days, carded a 73 on Friday to finish tied fourth on 17-under 271.

Yuvraj Singh Sandhu (67) and England’s Joshua Grenville-Wood (68) also took a share of fourth place.

Also read: Rory Hie on course for title encore at Classic with 3rd day lead too