Kaushal, Nohwar, Harimohan are New Year Cup winners at Noida GC

By Rahul Banerji

High-intensity, high-voltage action marked the annual New Year Cup which was played over three days at the Noida Golf Course (NGC) with Dipankar Kaushal emerging winner in the professional members event on a six-under par 66 total.

Arjun Chaudhary (-1) and Lakshaya Nagar (+1) finished behind Kaushal in that order.

The tournament, supported by the Kalpataru Vista group and presented by NGC, was played over five sessions on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and saw 500-plus entrants swing their clubs in frosty but clear conditions.

Kshetij Nohwar topped the 0-9 handicap category on countback ahead of Dr Sujit Nagrath after both had finished with scores of 70.

Harimohan Singh (71) was the overall gross winner ahead of Simarjeet Singh (76) while Nagendra Singh (56) was the overall nett winner.

Dr Vibha Singh (60) and Kamal Mehrotra (70) finished in that order in the NGC ladies category, while Col. M.M.S. Makol (32) topped the won the super-senior section ahead of Maj. B.P. Mathur (34, on countback).

Winning the senior section was Col. R.N. Sehgal with Col. D.S. Alagh finishing second.

Rahul Kher (65) and Raj Kumar Sharma (68) were first and second in the handicap 10-18 class, Capt. G.P.S. Choudhary (61) and Wg Cdr R.N. Jain were winner and runner-up respectively in the handicap 19-24 class.

Of the other categories, Arin Ahuja (77) topped the dependant members (11-15 years, gross) competition ahead of Vinamra Anand (80), Tanmay Rakheja (73) won the dependant members (16-19 years, gross) class with Arjun Gulati (80) second.

Chote Lal (74) took the NGC caddies event ahead of Sukhdev (79) and Ravi Sharma (81).

Tway leads in Hawaii

Kevin Tway sank seven birdies on his way to the first day lead with a seven-under par round of 66 at the Sentry Tournament of Champions PGA Tour year-opener in Hawaii on Thursday, one shot ahead of defending champion Dustn Johnson, 2017 winner Justin Thomas and Gary Woodland in an all-American top four.

Tway, later told pgatour.com, “When you’re making a lot of birdies it makes everything better. I was just trying to drink a lot of water. But I didn’t think I was going to play that good, to be honest … still a little dizzy.

“I hit the ball well, kept the ball in play, made a few putts, controlled my ball in the wind. It’s windy where I’m from in Oklahoma so it’s kind of like I was at home. Each shot’s difficult so you’re just focused on the trajectory and where I need to land it and where I need to miss it.”

Big-hitting Australian Marc Lieshman was sole fifth on five-under 68, ahead of a clutch of six on four-under 69s that included Irishman Rory McIlroy and Australian Jason Day.

Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, Webb Simpson and Spain’s Jon Rahm were tied 12th on three under 70s, while much talked-about feeder tour topper Cameron Champ was in a share of 16th alongside Michael Kim and colourful Englishman Ian Poulter on two-under 71s.

Also read: Impressive performances at NGC’s monthly junior tournament