NGC President’s Cup sees close battles up and down the field

By Rahul Banerji

Single points and one-shot differences marked battles up and down the field in the just concluded Noida Golf Course (NGC) President’s Cup supported by ATS over three days last week. Played in chilly weather, the NGC’s golfers who turned out in large numbers still showed plenty of competitive spark in almost all of the 10-plus events contested.

While most sections were decided on the basis of Stableford points, the rest were on gross scores recorded on the day.

Arjun Chandnani with a 2-under par total of 70 topped the overall gross competition just one shot ahead of Simarjeet Singh, while in the club professionals’ category, Vikrant Chopra with a 3-under 69 managed to hold off Dipankar Kaushal who finished on 2-under 70, both events going right down to the wire.

In the NGC Ladies championship, Sujata Kadyan emerged winner by a single point over Renu J.P. Singh 39 to 38 and it was no different in the super-seniors section in which Col C.S. Chahar got the better of Maj. Gen. G.P.S. Bindra 25 points to 24.

The handicap 10-18 event was actually decided on count-back with S.C. Sharma and Vikram Sharma both finishing on 42 points in that order.

J.S. Chaudhry topped the seniors competition with a healthy 44 points ahead of Dr Ajay Swaroop who finished with 41 in his kitty while in the 0 to 9 handicap section, Harkirat Sawhney with 40 points just shaded Ravi Wadhwa, who had 39.

Few easy wins

In the handicap 19 to 24 event, Arvind Sharma on 42 points finished fractionally ahead of Sanjay Bhalla (40). About the only easy winner over the three days of matches was Sukhman Singh in the dependent members 11 to 15 years age group who had a gross total of 82 against the 92 recorded by runner-up Ishaan Sawhney.

Arjun Gulati also had some space between himself and runner-up Arin Ahuja in the dependent members 16 to 21 years group with a gross score of 74 to Arin’s 81. Deepak Sharma topped the caddies’ event with a gross 70 ahead of runner-up Bipin Mukhya on 80.

The festivities were rounded off with Saturday’s prize-distribution ceremony and dinner at the NGC that was livened up by an energetic performance by Sufi singer Kutle Khan and his group despite inclement weather and a late shift of venue forced by the rain.

Vijay Singh, Anirban Lahiri fade out

In Florida, meanwhile, Vijay Singh’s hopes of a record-breaking PGA Tour victory were dashed by a final day 70 at the $6.8 million Honda Classic even as tour journeyman Kevin Mitchell stunned a loaded field to walk away winner by a single shot ahead of Brooks Koepka and Rickie Fowler.

India’s only representative on the world’s most lucrative professional golf circuit, Anirban Lahiri, could not sustain his challenge and faded away to a tied 59^th finish with a 5-over par round of 75 on Sunday for a 3-over aggregate of 283.

Key putt

The unheralded Mitchell sank a 15-foot birdie putt to avert a playoff with Koepka and Fowler, and was duly grateful for making the conversion.

“If I make par here, I got a playoff with two of the best players in the world and potentially Hall-of-Famers of all time. That’s a big thought for a guy that’s on his second year of Tour that’s never won. So I was able to execute and that’s something I haven’t been able to do in the past,” he said on the PGA Tour website later.

Vijay Singh, seeking to become the oldest-ever winner of a PGA Tour event ever was in contention till the end but fell just short after having closed to within one shot of the leaders.

Also read: Indian pro golfers in action worldwide, Lahiri fires it up in Florida