Lahiri, Kochhar take Jeev Invitational into Monday decider

By Rahul Banerji

For a third year in a row, the Jeev Milkha Singh Invitational will need a play-off to decide the winner, the protagonists this time being Anirban Lahiri and Karandeep Kochhar.

Unlike other years, though, and also in a first for the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), the decider will be played on an extra day.

The Rs. 1.5 crore ($203,200 approx) event presented by TAKE Sports, continued with its tradition of providing pulsating finishes at the Chandigarh Golf Club, sprinkled with an extra bit of drama this time.

Poor light prevented a finish on the day and the duel between former Asia no. 1 Lahiri (70-68-70-69) and local favourite Kochhar (76-66-67-68) was extended into Monday.

The third extra hole of the play-off will resume at 9 am on Monday, the PGTi media office said.

Both players ended regulation on matching totals of 11-under-277 after Kochhar, who began the week with a disappointing 76, made a determined comeback with a last round 68.

For his part, Lahiri continued his steady progress with a resilient 69 on Sunday.

Setback

At the end of Sunday’s final round in regulation, Karandeep was assessed a one-stroke penalty for accidentally causing the ball to move on the 17^th hole.

The Chandigarh lad, playing on his home course, was thus sent into a playoff against seven-time international winner Lahiri to decide the winner.

In regulation play, Kochhar, the winner of PGTI’s last event at the same venue in November, picked up birdies with 10 to 20 foot conversions on the fourth, eighth and 11^th holes.

Kochhar also chipped in for birdie on the 15^th and landed his bunker shots within six and four feet for birdies on the second and 16^th holes.

On the 17^th, his ball landed in the right rough where he accidentally caused it to move thus resulting in a double-bogey.

Lahiri did not have it easy on the front nine as he dropped two shots in exchange for a birdie.

He however, got his challenge back on track with tap-in birdies on the 13^th and 16^th and a 15-foot birdie conversion on the 15^th.

The two-time winner on the European Tour then picked up another birdie on the 17^th thanks to a good drive.

Tricky putt

Lahiri, who started the day in tied third two shots off the lead, then sank a tricky 12-footer to birdie the first play-off hole even as Kochhar fired a magnificent approach for a tap-in birdie.

Karandeep, who began the day in sixth place and three off the lead, found the bunker with his drive on the second playoff hole but got himself out of trouble with a fabulous third shot that left him a one-footer for par.

Lahiri missed his six-footer for birdie this time.

With light fading, it was decided to extend the match to Monday, a first in PGTI history.

Karandeep, currently ranked second on the PGTI merit list, said, “My chipping, putting and wedge play was top-class today.

“It’s great to fight my way back into the tournament after a poor start in round one. I feel I got better with each day.

“I was obviously disappointed about the one-shot penalty I had to incur. But I’ve put it behind me and am looking forward to finishing it well tomorrow.”

The experienced Anirban said, “I just had no momentum going on the front nine today.

Off the boil

“I was trying to be patient and finally hit my stride from the 13^th but was still unable to apply pressure on Karandeep.

“I’m happy to see how Karandeep has recovered so well after his slow start in the tournament. I’m now looking forward to the contest with him tomorrow.”

Incidentally Lahiri and Kochhar also played the first two rounds together.

Gurgaon’s Manu Gandas produced the day’s best of 66 to take joint third place with Patna’s Aman Raj (70) on 10-under-278.

Chandigarh’s Akshay Sharma, the leader in the second and third rounds, ended the week tied fifth on 8-under-280 with Sunday’s 74 alongside Veer Ahlawat (72).

S.S.P. Chawrasia (69) and PGTI Order of Merit leader Udayan Mane (74) were tied 13^th on 4-under-284, Jyoti Randhawa (71) was T29 on 2-over-290 and Gaganjeet Bhullar (73) was T33 on 3-over-291.

Also read: Jeev Invitational race tightens, Lahiri into top three