Jamal chips his way to PGTI title, breaks four-year victory drought

Chandigarh, April 22

Bangladesh’s Jamal Hossain (33-36-69-70) chipped his way to a gritty final round performance of two-under 70 to break his four-year victory drought at the Ahmedabad Open 2023, a Rs 1-crore prize money event played at the Glade One Golf Resort and Club.

Jamal, remaining overnight third, one shot off the lead, emerged triumphant in round four as he totalled eight-under 208 for the week thus securing his fourth PGTI title which was also his first win on the tour since 2019.

Delhi’s Rashid Khan (34-35-68-72), the round three joint leader, finished runner-up at seven-under 209 following his fourth round of 72.

Delhi’s Kshitij Naveed Kaul (33-35-69-73), the round three co-leader, claimed third place at six-under 210 after shooting a 73 on day four.

Eighteen-year-old rookie Shaurya Binu (72) of Bengaluru took tied fourth place at five-under 211 along with Kolkata’s Viraj Madappa, who shot the day’s best score of 68, and Delhi’s Kapil Kumar (71).

The first two rounds of the tournament comprised nine holes each. The third and fourth rounds comprised 18 holes each. The tournament was played over a total of 54 holes. The par for the course in the third and fourth rounds was 72. The nine-hole course was played twice in rounds three and four with different pin positions.

Jamal has the distinction of being the first player to win the PGTI as an amateur when he bagged the Bangladesh Open back in 2009. Karandeep Kochhar of Chandigarh later joined this list.

Jamal said, “I played my wedges and chip shots to perfection today. After a bad start, the eagle on the second gave me a lot of confidence. I then just focused on keeping it in play.

“There was some pressure on me going into the last hole when Rashid got within one shot of me. However, I had clarity in my thought-process while teeing it up on the last hole. I knew finding the green in two shots and making par with a two-putt could be good enough to win. I executed that plan well.

“I learnt from my mistakes in Chandigarh last week where I was in the lead in the early stages of the final round before I blew away my chances with some poor iron shots.

Two-time Asian Tour winner Rashid Khan, a major contender for most of the final round, mixed three birdies and three bogeys today. Rashid made par on the last hole thus missing the opportunity of taking the match into a playoff.

Among the Ahmedabad professionals, Varun Parikh finished tied 16th at even-par 216 while Anshul Patel was tied 28th at three-over 219.

Noida-based 15-year-old Aarav D Shah of Australia won the prize for the best performing amateur as he ended the week in tied 22nd place at a total of two-over 218.

As the PGTI heads into its mid-season break, Om Prakash Chouhan of Mhow continues to lead the PGTI Rankings with season’s earnings of Rs 52,52,650.