Wasim Khan one shot ahead after round three of Final Qualifying Stage, Aman Raj in second spot

Wasim Khan 

Kensville Golf & Country Club, Ahmedabad, January 21, 2016: Delhi’s Wasim Khan shot a two-over-74 to hold a one-shot lead in round three of the PGTI’s Final Qualifying Stage for the 2016 season being held at the Kensville Golf & Country Club near Ahmedabad. Khan’s three-day total stood at five-over-221. Patna-based amateur Aman Raj was placed one shot behind the leader in second position.

Wasim Khan (73-74-74), who was the overnight joint leader, made two birdies against four bogeys on Thursday to stay on top of the leaderboard despite the tough playing conditions. While Wasim sank a 25-feet birdie putt on the 11th and landed it within four feet for another birdie on the 14th, he also made two three-putts for the second day in succession to drop strokes on the 10th and 16th. Khan also missed par putts from within seven feet on the fourth and eighth to total four bogeys for the day.

“My driving and iron hitting has been very good this week but I have struggled with my chipping and putting. I’ve made three-putts on all three days so far. After being three-over through 10 holes today, I made a good comeback with birdies on 11 and 14 but the three-putt on 16 was a huge disappointment. However, it’s quite satisfying to be leading at this stage. The conditions have been tough this week so it would be great to shoot an under-par score in the final round. That would give me a good chance of ending up on top of the pack,” said Wasim.

Amateur Aman Raj made three birdies and five bogeys in his third round of 74 to be placed second at six-over-222.

Noida’s Raju Singh (75) was in third place at seven-over-223 and Bengaluru’s Syed Saqib Ahmed (77), the joint round two leader, occupied fourth place at eight-over-224.

At the end of round four on Friday, the top 35 players (+ ties) will earn full cards for the 2016 PGTI season.

PGTI Press release

C Muniyappa wins the Final Stage of the 2014 PGTI Qualifying School

Pune, January 24, 2014: Bangalore’s C Muniyappa won the Final Stage of PGTI’s Qualifying School for 2014 at the Poona Club Golf Course in Pune. Muniyappa totaled eight-under-276 for the tournament after he posted a four-over-75 in the final round on Friday. Karan Taunk of Jamshedpur finished second at five-under-279.

The top 38 players from the Final Qualifying Stage earned full cards for the 2014 PGTI season.

C Muniyappa (63-66-72-75) had a forgettable front-nine as he dropped four shots on the first five holes and a double-bogey on the ninth against a lone birdie on the seventh. His back-nine turned out to be much better as he picked up birdie-eagle-birdie on the 10th, 11th and 12th and thereafter dropped three bogeys.

The 37-year-old Muniyappa, said, “This win is a huge morale-booster for me as I struggled with injury and form recently. I struck the ball well for a major part of the tournament and managed recoveries from some tough situations. I was off-target today with my tee shots but managed to hang in there till the end. I made a chip-in from 30 yards for eagle on the 11th.”

Karan Taunk’s (70-73-67-69) 69 in the final round helped him finish runner-up with a five-under-279 total.

Chandigarh-based American national Rahul Bakshi was a further three strokes behind in third place.

Photo caption: C Muniyappa receives the trophy from Mr. M P Bharucha, Captain, Poona Club Golf Course. 

Muniyappa eight shots clear of the field despite a sedate 72 in round three

Pune, January 23, 2014: C Muniyappa (63-66-72) of Bangalore returned a sedate one-over-72 to stay eight shots clear of the field in round three of the PGTI’s Final Qualifying Stage for the 2014 season being held at the Poona Club Golf Course in Pune. Muniyappa’s total score now reads 12-under-201. American national Rahul Bakshi carded a three-under-68 to be placed second at four-under-209.

Muniyappa’s third round saw him stumble with two double-bogeys and a bogey against his four birdies. The 37-year-old pulled his tee shot into the trees on the second resulting in a double-bogey. His other double-bogey on the fifth came as a result of his second shot landing out of bounds. Muniyappa limited the damage by converting two 10-feet birdie putts on the fourth and sixth. His back-nine was better as he made birdies on the 11th and 18th and a bogey on the 13th.

“The two errors on the front-nine resulted in a loss of four shots. I was a little unlucky on the fifth where I hit a good shot but it rebounded off a tree and went out of bounds. I missed a lot putts today. I failed to convert four putts from a distance of three feet. Nonetheless, I still enjoy a substantial lead and the performance in the first two rounds has given me a lot of confidence for the coming season,” said Muniyappa.

Chandigarh-based Rahul Bakshi (67-74-68) made four birdies and a bogey in his third round to be placed second.

Karan Taunk of Jamshedpur fired an eagle on the par-4 15th besides three birdies and a bogey during his round of four-under-67. Taunk is currently placed third at three-under-210.

At the end of round four on Friday, the top 38 players will earn full cards for the 2014 PGTI season.

Press release

Muniyappa continues domination in round two of the Final Qualifying Stage

Pune, January 22, 2014: C Muniyappa (63-66) of Bangalore continued his domination in round two of the PGTI’s Final Qualifying Stage for the 2014 season being held at the Poona Club Golf Course in Pune. Muniyappa’s second round of five-under-66 moved his total score to 13-under-129 and handed him a massive nine-stroke lead. Chandigarh’s K Raghav Bhandari was placed second at four-under-138.

Muniyappa, who equaled the course record with a 63 in round one, came up with a bogey-free 66 on Wednesday to yet again post the day’s best score. The 37-year-old made an excellent recovery from the trees and followed that up with a 20-feet putt for birdie on the third. He holed a 12-footer for birdie on the sixth and found the edge of the green with his drive on the par-4 ninth to set up another birdie.

“I continued to strike it well. I also made some outstanding recoveries and rolled in a couple of long putts. I enjoy a big lead at the moment but need to keep it going in order to build my confidence for the season ahead,” said Muniyappa.

K Raghav Bhandari (66-72) made five birdies against six bogeys in his round of one-over-72 that placed him second with an overall score of four-under-138.

Pravin Pathare of Pune was placed third at two-under-140. Pathare’s second round of 69 featured an eagle on the par-4 10th hole besides three birdies, a bogey and a double-bogey.

Rahul Bakshi of Chandigarh and Lucknow’s Bhoop Singh shared fourth position at one-under-141.

The cut fell at 12-over-154. The top 80 players made the cut.

At the end of round four on Friday, the top 38 players will earn full cards for the 2014 PGTI season.

Khalin Joshi wins the Final Qualifying Stage of the 2013 Qualifying School

Kolkata, December 14, 2012: Bangalore’s Khalin Joshi emerged winner by six strokes at the PGTI’s Final Qualifying Stage for the 2013 season which was played at the RCGC, Kolkata. Joshi totaled eight-under-280 for the tournament after he fired a four-under-68 in the final round on Friday. K Prabagaran of Sri Lanka and Matloob Ahmed Rana of
Pakistan were the joint runners-up with matching totals of two-under-286.

The top 39 players (+ ties) from the Final Qualifying Stage earned full cards for the 2013 PGTI season.

Khalin Joshi’s (68-71-73-68) fourth and final round of four-under-68 included five birdies and one bogey. Khalin found the green in two shots on the par-5 fourth hole to set up his first birdie of the day. He then chipped-in from the edge for another birdie on the fifth.Joshi’s lone bogey of the day came on the seventh and was followed by birdies on the ninth, 10th and 16th.

The 20-year-old Joshi, India’s no. 1 amateur in 2012, said, “This win gives me a lot of confidence ahead of my maiden professional season. My short-game was pretty sharp this week and I also putted well. I kept the ball in play which in turn helped me post some good scores.”

Joint runner-up K Prabagaran’s (75-74-70-67) final round of 67 was the best score of the day.

Matloob Ahmed Rana (70-72-72-72) was the joint runner-up along with Prabagaran.

Kolkata’s Rahil Gangjee claimed fourth position with an overall score of even-par-288.

Photo caption: Khalin Joshi receives the winner's trophy for the 2013 PGTI Q School from Arjun Atwal in Kolkata on December 14, 2012

Khalin Joshi stays ahead in round three of the Final Qualifying Stage

Kolkata, December 13, 2012: Khalin Joshi (68-71-73) of Bangalore maintained his lead in round three of the PGTI’s Final Qualifying Stage for the 2013 season being held at the RCGC, Kolkata. Joshi fired a one-over-73 in round three to take his total score to four-under-212. Khalin, who now enjoys a two-stroke lead, made three birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey in the third round on Thursday.

Pakistan’s Matloob Ahmed Rana (70-72-72) was placed second at two-under-214 while Kolkata’s M Nazir Ali (71-73-72) was in third place with a total score of even-par-216.

Kolkata’s Rahil Gangjee (74-69-75) occupies joint fifth position with an overall score of two-over-218.

The second round was completed earlier in the day with Khalin Joshi emerging as the leader. The cut was declared at 12-over-156 at the end of round two. Eighty players made the cut.

At the end of round four on Friday, the top 39 players will earn full cards for the 2013 PGTI season.

Press release

Khalin Joshi is the clubhouse leader on day two of the Final Qualifying Stage

Kolkata, December 12, 2012: Khalin Joshi (68-71) of Bangalore emerged as the clubhouse leader on day two of the PGTI’s Final Qualifying Stage for the 2013 season being held at the RCGC, Kolkata. Joshi, who shot a 71 in round two, now has a total score of five-under-139.

Anil Mane (72-69) of Mumbai is placed second with a total score of three-under-141 while Pakistan’s Matloob Ahmed Rana (70-72) is in third place at two-under-142.

Kolkata’s Rahil Gangjee (74-69) occupies fourth position with an overall score of one-under-143.

The second round could not be completed on Wednesday due to rain. Fifteen golfers out of a total of 128 were yet to finish round two when play was suspended due to fading light. The second round will be completed on Thursday morning before the cut with the top 80 players (+ ties) is declared. The third round will commence thereafter on Thursday.

At the end of round four on Friday, the top 39 players will earn full cards for the 2013 PGTI season.

Press release

Khalin Joshi is the round one leader at the Final Qualifying Stage

Kolkata, December 11, 2012: Khalin Joshi of Bangalore shot a score of four-under-68 to take the lead after round one of the PGTI’s Final Qualifying Stage for the 2013 season being held at the RCGC, Kolkata.

Joshi made an eagle on the 15th besides four birdies and two bogeys in his opening round.

The Pakistani duo of Matloob Ahmed Rana and Latif Rafiq are in tied second place with identical scores of two-under-70.

Local favourite Rahil Gangjee is placed tied 23rd as he shot a score of two-over-74.

The top 80 players (+ ties) will make the cut after round two of the Final Qualifying Stage. At the end of round four only the top 39 players will earn full cards for the 2013 PGTI season.

Press release