Abhinav wins maiden title, Karandeep finishes 2nd

Chandigarh, December 20

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Faridabad-based Abhinav Lohan recorded his breakthrough win on the PGTI, securing a narrow one-shot victory at the Bengaluru Open Golf Championship at the Karnataka Golf Association (KGA) course today.

The 30-year-old, who plays at the DLF Golf & Country Club in Gurugram, shot a 4-under 68 to take his four-day total to 13-under 275 at the Rs 40-lakh event.

It was Lohan’s first title on the PGTI and second win of the year as he had emerged victorious at the PGTI Feeder Tour event in Lucknow two months back.

Chandigarh’s Karandeep Kochhar (71) finished runner-up at 12-under 276.

Lohan (70-67-70-68), who along with the likes of Rashid Khan and Abhijit Singh Chadha, was part of the Indian team that won the silver medal at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, had an eventful day with seven birdies, a bogey and a double-bogey.

Lying tied second and two shots off the lead before the final round, Lohan made a steady start with pars on the first four holes. He then took control with birdies on the 5th, 7th, 8th and 9th, at the cost of a lone bogey on the 6th.

He made a great recovery from the bunker on the 5th before converting a 10-footer to start off his birdie blitz. He carried the momentum on to the back-nine with three consecutive birdies on the 12th, 13th and 14th, where he made two 20-feet conversions.

With the putter on fire, he had stretched his lead to a mammoth five shots after the 14th. There was a late twist though as Lohan hit an erratic tee shot and followed it up with a three-putt on the 16th to drop a double-bogey. In the meantime, his nearest rival Kochhar birdied the 15th to get within two shots of the leader.

Lohan was a bit shaky on the 17th too. He found the trees there but managed to salvage a par with another 20-feet conversion to carry a two-shot cushion on to the last hole.

“I am relieved to win on the main tour for the first time,” said Lohan.

Kochhar (67-69-69-71), the third round leader by two shots, slipped with early bogeys on the 3rd and 5th and a double-bogey on the 6th where he found the water. He then got back into the match with four birdies on the back-nine before falling just short with a 71. He moved up two spots on the PGTI’s money list from seventh to fifth.

The Bengaluru duo of M Dharma, who shot the day’s best round of 67, and Rahil Gangjee (71) claimed third and fourth places, with totals of 11-under 277 and 10-under 278 respectively. — TNS