Eagleton - The Golf Resort, Bangalore, 23-01-2015
Ravinder Tavel wins PGTI Qualifying School 2015 after playoff victory over Trishul Chinappa
Thirty-eight players earn full cards for 2015 season
Ravinder Tavel (69-72-69-70) of Chandimandir, Haryana, prevailed in a playoff against Bangalore’s Trishul Chinappa (75-69-69-67) to win the PGTI’s Final Qualifying Stage for the 2015 season being held at Eagleton - The Golf Resort near Bangalore. Tavel defeated Chinappa on the second playoff hole after the two golfers ended the regulation 72 holes with matching totals of eight-under-280.
At the end of round four, the top 38 players earned their cards for the 2015 PGTI season as five players were tied in 34th place at seven-over-295.
Ravinder Tavel, who started the day two shots off the lead in joint second, emerged a major contender for the title after a solid front-nine where he made three birdies and a lone bogey. The 21-year-old from the SEPTA Golf Course in Chandimandir, a town on the outskirts of Chandigarh, then had a mixed back-nine as he made three birdies and an equal number of bogeys. Tavel finally sealed the affair against Trishul Chinappa, who shot the day’s best of 67, on the second playoff hole. Ravinder sank a seven feet par putt to win the event even as Chinappa missed a short par putt.
Tavel, who played his first full season on the PGTI in 2014, said, “I had a good start with some long conversions on the front-nine. However, the back-nine wasn’t that great as I missed some short putts to drop bogeys. I was quite confident going into the playoff even though Trishul had shot a much better score than me in regulation play. I held my nerve to hole a tricky par putt on the second playoff hole to seal the win.”
He added, “I’m delighted with this effort. It gives me the self-belief to do well in the 2015 PGTI season. Now that I’m in the top 100 of the tour, I will get more playing opportunities and can thus improve my game. I’ve worked really hard to get here. I would like to thank my coach Mr. Rampal for helping me with my game and Maj. Gen. Jagmohan Singh Sidhu and Col. Alok Sood for supporting me when I needed it the most.”
Udayan Mane of the Eagleton Golf Resort, Bangalore, finished third at seven-under-281.
Chandigarh’s K Raghav Bhandari and Delhi’s Anirudh Goyal shared fourth place at three-under-285.
Delhi golfer Siddharth Semwal, who fired a 68 on Friday, claimed sixth place at one-under-287.
About PGTI:
Formed in 2006, Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) is the recognised official body of professional golf in India. PGTI's objective is to promote professional golf in the country, as well as to give players an opportunity to be involved in the decision making on all aspects of the game. Headed by Mr. Kapil Dev (President), PGTI's governing body comprises leading Indian golf professionals. PGTI currently has over 300 members.
For information on PGTI, please contact:
Nikhil Kalaan
Media Manager - PGTI
Mobile: 9910974846
Email: media@pgtofindia.com
