By Rahul Banerji
Patna boy Aman Raj chalked up his maiden PGTI victory, spreadeagling the field to win the Jaipur Open presented by Rajasthan Tourism with a comfortable three stroke margin at the Rambagh Golf Club on Friday.
Overnight leader Aman built on a fiery third round 62 that included eight birdies with a final card of 65 to close out his first Tour win. He turned professional after winning the PGTI Qualifying School in 2016
The stage was set for the 23-year-old who had a final total of 22-under 258 (64-67-62-65). The former India no. 1 amateur finally built on his two previous runner-up finishes with a round that was marked by two eagle conversions.
Delhi’s Honey Baisoya (65-65-66-65) also shot a last round of 65 to finish runner-up for the second year in succession. M. Dharma of Bangalore had a tournament-best nine-under-61 to take third place at 17-under-263.
Noida’s Gaurav Pratap Singh hit an albatross on the par-5 17th, holing his second shot from 256 yards on his way to a 67 on Friday and tied eighth place on 13-under-267.
Aman, from the Patna Golf Club, had a steady front-nine with two long birdie conversions. He also made a good recovery for a bogey on the eighth after hitting his tee shot out of bounds.
He began the last hole with a one-shot lead with Honey breathing down his neck. But Aman shut the door on the challenge with monster putt for an eagle.
Aman becomes the first Patna and Bihar-based player to win on the PGTI. With a a winner’s cheque worth Rs. 4,84,950 he also rose from 22nd to 10th place on the PGTI Order of Merit.
Long wait
“I’ve waited a long time for my victory having come close on a few occasions in the past,” he said later.
“I just tried to repeat what I had done previously in the week. Even the bogey on the front-nine came after a good recovery so I wasn’t too affected by it. Then the chip-in for eagle on the 14th really lifted my confidence. I knew I just had to keep my nerve from there on.
“On the last hole I knew I would win with a par, so the approach shot was crucial. As soon as I struck my approach and the ball took off I was quite sure it would land in a good position. That’s exactly what happened. The eagle putt at the end just made the win that much sweeter.”
Baisoya, with two wins on the PGTI this year, looked a strong contender when he got within one of the lead. However, his challenge faded away with a missed chip-putt for birdie on the last hole.
Dharma’s 61, the round of the tournament, featured an eagle and seven birdies.
Chandigarh-based amateur Yuvraj Singh Sandhu (67) and Bangladesh’s Md Zamal Hossain Mollah (69) were tied fourth at 16-under-264.
Maiden win for Afshan too
The Jaypee Greens in Greater Noida saw another title breakthrough on the day with Afshan Fatima winning her maiden professional title.
The 22-year-old came back from a four-shot deficit to edge out Amandeep Drall on the second play-off hole in the 13th leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour on Friday.
Afshan was 6-over 150 after 36 holes, while Amandeep, the only player to have won three times this season, was 2-over.
Afshan finished on 1-under 71 against Amandeep’s 3-over 75, which meant they were tied 5-over 221. In the play-off, Afshan prevailed on the second hole.
Tvesa Malik had three birdies in her 71 to finish third. It also helped her keep the lead on the Hero Order of Merit, while Amandeep stayed second.
Neha Tripathi finally found some rhythm to shoot a level par 72 for a tied-10th finish to stay third on the money list.
Siddhi Kapoor (76) and Gurimsar Badwal (79) were fourth and fifth, while Gaurika Bishnoi and Ayesha Kapur shot 77 each to be Tied-6th.
First round leader, amateur Tanirika Singh had a rough day at 83 and ended eighth, while Suchitra Ramesh (78) was ninth. Neha (72) and Khushi Khanijau (76) were T10.
Also read: Indian Teenager Hitaashee Bakshi wins at Hong Kong Golf
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