Kolkata, December 1, 2012: Kolkata’s SSP Chowrasia posted an impressive
come-from-behind victory at the McLeod Russel Tour Championship in front of his
home crowd at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club (RCGC). Chowrasia fired an inspiring
four-under-68 to end up with a tournament total of nine-under-279 at the Rs
1.25 crore event.
Shamim Khan of
SSP Chowrasia (72-70-69-68), who was overnight tied fifth, overcame a four-shot deficit on the final day to claim his 13th professional win.
Chowrasia’s round of 68 was the joint best score of the day.
The 34-year-old was even-par after the first nine holes having made birdies on
the fourth and sixth and bogeys on the third and seventh. SSP found the green
in two on the par-5 fourth hole and narrowly
missed his 15-feet putt for eagle. He missed the greens on the third and seventh holes.
Chowrasia turned the tables on the leader Shamim with birdies on the 12th and 13th as the latter dropped five strokes from the sixth to the 11th. Chowrasia landed his approach shot within four feet on the 12th and followed that up with a 12-feet conversion on the par-3 13th. The two-time winner on the European Tour showed his class once again by
making a two-putt from the fringe for birdie on the 15th and sinking a 15-footer for birdie on the 17th.
Chowrasia, who bagged the winner’s cheque worth Rs. 19,81,250, said, “It’s great to win on my home course for the first time and that too coming from behind. I focussed a lot on my putting today and it paid off. The hitting was also very accurate. I capitalized on both the par-5s today and had a fabulous back-nine where I shot four birdies.
missed his 15-feet putt for eagle. He missed the greens on the third and seventh holes.
Chowrasia turned the tables on the leader Shamim with birdies on the 12th and 13th as the latter dropped five strokes from the sixth to the 11th. Chowrasia landed his approach shot within four feet on the 12th and followed that up with a 12-feet conversion on the par-3 13th. The two-time winner on the European Tour showed his class once again by
making a two-putt from the fringe for birdie on the 15th and sinking a 15-footer for birdie on the 17th.
Chowrasia, who bagged the winner’s cheque worth Rs. 19,81,250, said, “It’s great to win on my home course for the first time and that too coming from behind. I focussed a lot on my putting today and it paid off. The hitting was also very accurate. I capitalized on both the par-5s today and had a fabulous back-nine where I shot four birdies.
The turnaround happened on the 12th and 13th holes. I picked
up a stroke each on these holes and seized the lead from Shamim. My confidence
grew from there on. I hope to take this form to the next season.”
Shamim Khan (70-68-69-73) finished runner-up to ensure his top position on the Rolex Rankings at the end of the season. He began the day confidently with birdies on the first and fourth but then slipped and conceded his lead to Chowrasia after dropping bogeys on the sixth, seventh and ninth and a double bogey on the 11th. He finally rallied with birdies on the 15th and 18th to secure second position.
Shamim said, “I missed some short putts today and had to fight my way out of difficult situations. Nonetheless, I recovered well with two birdies towards the end. I’m delighted to bag my first ever Order of Merit title. I feel my consistency has been rewarded.”
Mithun Perera ofSri Lanka
finished third at seven-under-281 after shooting a 70 in the final round.
Rashid Khan ofDelhi , who finished second in the
Rolex Rankings behind Shamim Khan, was joint fourth in the tournament along
with fellow Delhi golfer Manav Jaini, Lucknow ’s Vijay Kumar and Bangalore ’s M Dharma at five-under-283. Jaini
matched Chowrasia’s 68 to post the joint best score of the day.
Anirban Lahiri claimed 10th place (two-under-286) while Kolkata’s Rahil Gangjee secured tied 12th position (even-par-288).
Jyoti Randhawa finished tied 16th at one-over-289.
Shamim Khan won Rolex Player of the Year Award Shamim Khan pipped Rashid Khan on the last day of the season to end up as number one on the Rolex Rankings. Shamim, with record earnings of Rs. 57,47,713 for the 2012 PGTI season, thus sealed the Rolex Player of the Year Award title. He had an amazing 18 top-10s in the year which included three wins. Rashid Khan finished second on the Rolex Rankings with earnings of Rs. 48,81,910. Rashid had one win and 13 other top-10s in the season.
Shamim Khan (70-68-69-73) finished runner-up to ensure his top position on the Rolex Rankings at the end of the season. He began the day confidently with birdies on the first and fourth but then slipped and conceded his lead to Chowrasia after dropping bogeys on the sixth, seventh and ninth and a double bogey on the 11th. He finally rallied with birdies on the 15th and 18th to secure second position.
Shamim said, “I missed some short putts today and had to fight my way out of difficult situations. Nonetheless, I recovered well with two birdies towards the end. I’m delighted to bag my first ever Order of Merit title. I feel my consistency has been rewarded.”
Mithun Perera of
Rashid Khan of
Anirban Lahiri claimed 10th place (two-under-286) while Kolkata’s Rahil Gangjee secured tied 12th position (even-par-288).
Jyoti Randhawa finished tied 16th at one-over-289.
Shamim Khan won Rolex Player of the Year Award Shamim Khan pipped Rashid Khan on the last day of the season to end up as number one on the Rolex Rankings. Shamim, with record earnings of Rs. 57,47,713 for the 2012 PGTI season, thus sealed the Rolex Player of the Year Award title. He had an amazing 18 top-10s in the year which included three wins. Rashid Khan finished second on the Rolex Rankings with earnings of Rs. 48,81,910. Rashid had one win and 13 other top-10s in the season.
Photo caption: SSP Chowrasia receives the McLeod Russel
Tour Championship trophy from Deepak Khaitan, Vice Chairman, McLeod Russel
(second from left). Aveek Sarkar, Captain, RCGC (fourth from left), Padamjit
Sandhu, Director, PGTI (extreme left) and.Uttam Singh Mundy, Director, PGTI
(extreme right) can also be seen in the picture.
Press release
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