By Rahul Banerji
Viraj Madappa survived the tests posed by an unfamiliar Delhi Golf Club course to come through for a one-shot win over Khalin Joshi in the Rs. 70 lakh MP Cup on Friday.
The Kolkata golfer held his nerve on a high-scoring day to pocket a Rs 11.31 lakh in the Tata Steel PGTI event that was supported by the Just In Time Sports Foundation.
It was Madappa’s second professional title and his first win in three years.
The 23-year-old had a final 2-under par 70 round to follow scores of 71, 67 and 66 for 14-under 274 total. His earnings took him from ninth place to third in the PGTI Order of Merit.
Bangalore’s Joshi (69-66-69-71), who looked in control till the 12th hole, slipped on the home stretch for a 1-under 71 that had him on 13-under 275.
He also moved up from seventh to fifth place in the PGTI Order of Merit.
Slipping away
Rashid Khan (67-73-68-69) was in contention till the 14th hole as he was in the joint lead. However, the Delhi golfer dropped three shots over the last four holes to end the week in third place on 11-under 277.
Joint overnight leaders and good friends Madappa and practice partner Joshi had a mixed front nine with two birdies and two bogeys each.
On 10, Viraj made a second 15-foot conversion to pick up another shot.
However, 14 was the turning point, as both found the bushes but Madappa was lucky to get a free drop due to his stance being on the cart path.
That break earned him a birdie while Joshi dropped a shot, leading to a decisive two-shot swing.
Madappaa, who won his first and only other title at the Asian Tour’s Take Solutions Masters 2018 in Bangalore, found the bushes again on 17 but recovered well with an up and down for bogey.
With the trailing Joshi well placed to make birdie on the last hole, Madappa went for broke, landing 50 yards short of the hole for an up and down birdie to seal his win.
Novel feeling
Madappa said, “I was confident today but stressed out from the very start as I haven’t been in the leader group in a few years.
“Since I’ve not been in this position for some time, it almost felt like a new experience.
“I played decent golf today but got lucky when Khalin, who was playing well, gave me a chance with his dropped shots on 13 and 14.
“That two-shot swing on 14 proved to be crucial. I feel Khalin and I were both just a little scrappy today and not at our best.
“My iron game was great this week. I had great control with the irons, off the tee and fairway, placing it well and attacking flags that others weren’t.
“The pins were extremely challenging in the last round and that tested all the players.
“I’ve been playing well for some time but not putting four good rounds of golf together. I’m happy that I was consistent from start to finish this week.
Lucky charm
“I should get my mother to the course more often as I seem to win every time she is around,” added Madappa, who prior to his win this week had seven top-10s in the season including two runner-up finishes.
Joshi began with a 20-foot eagle conversion on the first hole and then had a tap-in birdie on 10 to raise hopes of victory.
He led by two shots till 12 before finding the bushes on 13 and 14 where he dropped consecutive shots.
A penalty drop on 14 led to a bogey and a birdie to close the round was not enough to catch his playing partner
Rashid Khan, overnight T5 four shots off the lead, made a charge on the day with six birdies on the first 14 holes.
At that point, Rashid was in the joint lead with Madappa a bogey on 15 and double-bogey on 18 ended his run in third place.
Chandigarh’s Yuvraj Singh Sandhu (69) finished fourth on 9-under 279.
Delhi’s Pawan Kumar shot the day’s best of 67 to finish tied 11th on 4-under 284.
Karandeep Kochhar of Chandigarh continues to lead the PGTI Order of Merit with a T20 finish on 1-under 287.
Also read: Madappa, Joshi tied for lead going into MP Cup final day
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