Ashbeer takes lead in Goodricke East India Amateur Golf Championship

Kolkata, December 20, 2011: Kapurthala’s Ashbeer Singh Saini took the lead after going into a play-off with overnight leader Honey Baisoya on day two of Goodricke East India Amateur Golf Championship at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club here. Saini and Baisoya both came back with the same score of two day’s total one-under 143 and one had to win the play-off for the conclusion of their final seeding before getting into tomorrow’s match play competition. After halving three holes, Saini made a par putt on fourth while Baisoya missed it, who then became second for the day.

Local boy S. K. Pappu carded a level par round for the total of one-over 145 in a tie along with Bangalore’s S. Chikkarangappa (71, 74) and finished third and fourth respectively. Another duo of Bangalore Trishul Chinappa 146 (74, 72) and Khalin Joshi 147 (76, 71) ended the round to take fifth and sixth place.

Since only 32 players had to qualify for the match play starting from tomorrow, there was another three way play-off between Delhi’s Siddharth Semwal, Kolkata boys Sural Ali and Tutul Ali to decide the 32^nd position when all of them returned with 16-over 160. Tutul Ali packed his golf bag on the first hole itself while Semwal won the second hole after making a par putt from Suraj Ali, who missed the par from 10-foot.

The 17-year-old Saini started the day pretty well as he shot a birdie on 2^nd, 4^th, 10^th and 16^th while bogeyed the 6^th and 13^th. Saini, who beat Pro Rashid Khan once in a match play at the same course said, “I have a fair idea of winning and loosing the match play at this course. As far as today’s round is concerned, I blocked two-three shots where I missed on right side of the fairway. I have no complains about my putting and I am looking to beat the tough player, Siddharth Semwal tomorrow in the match play.”

Delhi lad Baisoya fired two birdies on 14^th and 15^th while made bogeys on 3^rd, 9^th and 17^th. Baisoya wanted the play-off to go on at least for nine holes so that he can practice well for tomorrow but he missed a par putt on fourth and lost the hole from Saini. He said, “My putting let me down again today. I was two-over after front nine but somehow managed to hit two birdies in the back nine thanks to my swing.”

RCGC boy S. K. Pappu got a brilliant start as he hit a birdie on 1^st, an eagle on 4^th  , two back-to-back birdies on 14^th and 15^th. He made couple of mistakes for a bogey on 3^rd and 16^th when he hit the wrong tee shots which went into the water bodies both the times.

Photo caption: Kapurthala’s Ashbeer Singh Saini in action in Kolkata on December 20, 2011.

Press Release