Roller-coaster ride for Arjun
Noida’s Arjun Singh Chaudhri claimed his third professional title with a remarkable come-from-behind victory at the Forest Hills Golf Resort in Mohali on Thursday.
“I had a poor front-nine today but managed to turn things around on the back-nine. A couple of good par-saves on the 12th and 15th helped my cause,” Arjun said.
“But the turning point of the day came on the 16th where I hit a brilliant second shot that landed within two feet of the pin and led to a birdie. I followed that up with a crucial birdie putt on the 17th.”
Arjun posted a one-over-71 in the third and final round to total three-under-207 in the third event of the 2013 PGTI Feeder Tour season. Delhi’s Honey Baisoya carded an even-par-70 to finish runner-up at one-under-209.
Arjun (65-71-71), who had an overnight three-shot lead, made a terrible start with bogeys on the second, fifth and eighth holes and conceded a two-shot lead to Baisoya at the end of nine holes. The 34-year-old then rallied with a birdie on the 10th and a good par-save with a chip-putt on the 12th.
Chaudhri was back on level terms with Baisoya after the latter three-putted for bogey on the 13th.
The 2011 PGTI Feeder Tour Order of Merit champion, then hit a purple patch on the 15th, 16th and 17th to establish a two-shot lead. He made a chip-putt from 50 yards for a par-save on the 15th and then landed his approach from 200 yards to within two feet for birdie on the 16th.
He all but sealed the title after converting a 10-feet birdie putt on the 17th. Baisoya’s title hopes were dashed when he hit it out of bounds on the 18th and bogeyed the hole. Although, Arjun also bogeyed the last hole, he had enough of a cushion to take the win.
Arjun has now won two out of three events staged in the 2013 Feeder Tour season so far. He currently enjoys a lead of over `50,000 on the Feeder Tour Order of Merit for 2013.
Added Arjun, “I was strong off the tee through the week and didn’t hit it into trouble. My irons shots were sharp and I putted well under pressure. The layout at Forest Hills is quite challenging and winning here has really helped my confidence. My game is looking good at the moment and I’d like to carry this form on to PGTI’s main tour with some big events coming up.”
Akshay Sharma of Chandigarh and Kapurthala’s Ashbeer Saini were tied third at two-over-212. Pune’s Moniuddin Malak was a further shot back in fifth place.
Chandigarh’s Rajinder ended sixth with a four-over-214 total while another Chandigarh golfer Ranjit Singh claimed tied seventh place along with Angad Cheema of Panchkula at six-over-216.
Harmeet Kahlon of Chandigarh secured tied 29th position with a three-day total of 15-over-225.
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