Bangaloren golfer S. Chikkarangappa made a strong comeback with a final round of five-under-67 to earn his maiden international win at the Asian Development Tour's TAKE Solutions India Masters golf tournament, here Saturday.
Chikka, as he is commonly known, playing at his home course, the Eagleton Golf Resort near Bangalore, overcame the overnight six-shot deficit as he posted a tournament total of 18-under-270 to achieve a remarkable two-stroke victory at the $70,000 event.
Abhishek Jha, another Bangalorean and good friend and practice partner of Chikka, shot a contrasting three-over-75 to finish runner-up at 16-under-272 despite starting the day with a six-shot lead.
Chikk (64-70-69-67), who came out overnight tied second and nursing an injury in his left wrist, had a three-shot swing early in his favour as he converted a 25-footer for birdie on the third even as Jha (66-66-65-75) dropped bogeys on the third and fourth. Jha three-putted on the third and found the trees on the fourth.
Chikka narrowed the gap to two shots after making a tricky 10-feet birdie putt on the eighth. Both the Eagleton-based professionals birdied the 10th but Jha conceded another shot with a three-putt for bogey on the 12th. Chikka finally drew level with Jha thanks to a 30-feet birdie conversion on the 15th.
Jha found himself in trouble on the 16th where he couldn't get out of thick rough in the first attempt. As a result, he double-bogeyed the 16thand the tables turned with Chikka taking a two-shot lead.
Chikka subsequently sealed his fourth professional title after the two golfers birdied the 17th and made pars on the 18th.
Chikka, who became the second Indian after Sujjan Singh to win on the Asian Development Tour, said: "I'm delighted to finally win at my home course. Last few events I was right up there on the leaderboard but couldn't somehow take my chances.
"The 30-foot birdie putt on the 15th was the turning point today. I felt I had the momentum from there on. Then after Abhishek's double-bogey on the next hole, I made sure I birdied the 17th.
A"I felt I came back really well after the setback with the triple-bogey on the second day and the injury to my wrist on the third day. I couldn't sleep till late last night due to the pain in my wrist and had to keep applying ice on it to be ready for the final round.
"I dedicate this win to my late grandfather who passed away last week."
Jha, who missed out on winning his maiden title, said: "My rhythm got upset early on with the bogeys. I felt I got nervous and didn't pace myself well. I know I can do much better. Nonetheless, there are a lot of positives to take away from this performance."
Sweden's Nils Floren fired a 67 in the final round to finish third at 14-under-274 while C Muniyappa of Bangalore returned a 66 to share fourth place with Niall Turner of Ireland at 13-under-275.
Kolkata's S.S.P. Chowrasia and Bangalore's R. Murthy were a further shot back in tied sixth. Murthy slipped four places from his overnight tied second while Chowrasia's 65 was the day's best score.
Thailand's Pijit Petchkasem was eighth at 11-under-277 while the Bangalore duo of Khalin Joshi and M Dharma were joint ninth along with Gurgaon's Deepinder Singh Kullar at 10-under-278.
Yashas Chandra of Bangalore, the only amateur to make the cut, won the trophy for the best performance by an amateur. He claimed overall 45th place with a total of six-over-294.
