Mukesh thus gave his preparations for next week’s Panasonic
Open in Japan
a major boost. It was a record 19th PGTI win for Mukesh and his second in Kochi after 2015.
Sri Lankan Anura Rohana claimed the runner-up spot at
11-under-277 after his final round of two-under-70 at the Rs. 40 lakh event.
Mukesh Kumar (70-68-71-67), lying overnight tied third and
two off the lead, made a determined start with two birdies on the first six
holes followed by an astonishing par-save on the seventh where he recovered
from the water hazard and sank a 20-footer.
Mukesh began closing the gap with leader Rohana on the
back-nine. He landed his approach shots within two feet on both the
10th and 13th to make birdies and thus take a share of the lead.
Kumar went ahead when Anura dropped a bogey on the 14th.
The winner of over 120 titles finally sealed it with a
birdie on the 16th followed by an excellent par-save from over the green
on the par-3 17th. Mukesh’s 67 also happened to be the day’s best score.
Mukesh, also a winner on the Asian Tour, said, “I was quite
confident from the start of the round. I knew I play better when I’m not in the
leader group as the pressure is less and one doesn’t think too much about the
leaderboard.
“When I landed it in the water hazard on the seventh but
still managed to save par from 20 feet, I knew it could be my day. After making
birdie on the 13th I realized that I was tied for the lead with Anura.
That spurred me on as I attacked the pins and went on to make another birdie on
the 16th.
“I’ve really enjoyed playing here at the CIAL Golf Club. I
was quite upset at missing the cut last year after winning in 2015. I was
therefore eager to win this year. This win will now encourage me to raise my
game further at next week’s Panasonic Open in Japan
which is an Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour co-sanctioned event,” said Mukesh,
who won his last title at the Asian Tour’s Panasonic Open India in Delhi in December.
Mukesh, who took home the winner’s cheque worth Rs. 6 lakh,
has now climbed from 11th to fourth position in the PGTI Order of
Merit. Mukesh, who is currently 51 years and eight months of age, also broke
his own record of being the oldest player to win on the PGTI. He set the record
with his last win on the PGTI in October 2016 when he was 51 years and two
months old.
Anura Rohana (70-70-67-70), the overnight joint leader,
slipped to second place on Saturday after shooting a 70 that featured four
birdies and two bogeys. Rohana was looking good at three-under after the first
eight holes but then dropped bogeys on the ninth and 14th to concede the
lead to Mukesh.
The turning point of the day was probably when Anura’s
bunker shot just stopped at the lip of the hole on the 16th and thus
denied him a crucial eagle for a share of the lead. He couldn’t catch up with
Mukesh thereafter.
Om Prakash Chouhan (68) of Mhow clinched fourth place at
seven-under-281.
Last year’s champion Feroz Ali Mollah (73) of Kolkata
finished tied 23rd at two-over-290.
Patna's Aman Raj carded one over 73 on the fourth day aggregating 2 under 286 to finish tied 10th on the leader board along with 3 others.
Prize Presentation picture caption:
Mukesh Kumar receives the trophy and cheque from Mr. V J
Kurian, IAS, MD, CIAL. Also seen in the picture are (left to right) Mr. Michael
Lestourgeon, Associate Director of Sales, Courtyard by Marriott, Kochi Airport,
Mr. Joseph Peter, DGM - Commercial, CIAL, Mr. Sunil Chacko, CFO, CIAL, Mr. A M
Shabeer, Executive Director, CIAL, Mr. Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO, PGTI, Mr. Sabu
Thomas, Administrative Officer, CIAL Golf Club, Maj. Gen K J Koshi, AVSM,
Advisor - CIAL Golf Club
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