Forest Hills Golf Resort, Karoran, Mohali, 12-09-2013

Arjun Singh Chaudhri fashions remarkable come-from-behind win

Honey Baisoya is runner-up

Noida’s Arjun Singh Chaudhri claimed his third professional title with a remarkable come-from-behind victory at the Forest Hills Golf Resort in Karoran situated in Mohali district of Punjab. Chaudhri posted a one-over-71 in the third and final round to total three-under-207 at the third event of the 2013 PGTI Feeder Tour season. Delhi’s Honey Baisoya carded an even-par-70 on Thursday to finish as the runner-up at one-under-209.

Arjun Singh Chaudhri (65-71-71), who enjoyed an overnight three-shot lead, had a terrible start to the day as he bogeyed the second, fifth and eighth due to some poor hitting. He thus conceded a two-shot lead to Honey Baisoya at the end of nine holes. The 34-year-old Chaudhri then rallied with a birdie on the 10^th and a good par-save with a chip-putt on the 12^th. Arjun was back on level terms with Baisoya after the latter three-putted for bogey on the 13^th.

Chaudhri, the 2011 PGTI Feeder Tour Order of Merit champion, hit a purple patch on the 15^th, 16^th and 17^th to establish a two-shot lead. He made an excellent chip-putt from 50 yards for a par-save on the 15^th and then landed his approach from 200 yards to within two feet for birdie on the 16^th. Arjun all but sealed the title after converting a 10-feet birdie putt on the 17^th. Baisoya title hopes were dashed when he hit it Out of Bounds (OB) on the 18^th and bogeyed the hole. Although, Chaudhri also bogeyed the last hole, he cruised to a comfortable two-shot win at the end.  

Arjun has now won two out of three events staged in the 2013 Feeder Tour season so far. He currently enjoys a lead of over Rs. 50,000 on the Feeder Tour Order of Merit for 2013. Chaudhri now also has the maximum number of wins (3) to his credit on the PGTI Feeder Tour along with Maniram Sharma of Karnal.

Chaudhri said, “I had a poor front-nine today but managed to turn things around on the back-nine. A couple of good par-saves on the 12^th and 15^th helped my cause. But the turning point of the day came on the 16^th where I hit a brilliant second shot that landed within two feet of the pin and led to a birdie. I followed that up with a crucial birdie putt on the 17^th.”

He added, “I was strong off the tee through the week and didn’t hit it into trouble. My irons shots were sharp and I putted well under pressure. The layout at Forest Hills is quite challenging and winning here has really helped my confidence. My game is looking good at the moment and I’d like to carry this form on to PGTI’s main tour with some big events coming up.

“I’d like to thank and give credit for my win to one of my closest friends, fellow professional and coach Mr. Shyam Vijay. We’ve put in a lot of work together towards improving my game,” said Chaudhri.

Rookie Honey Baisoya (71-68-70), who was overnight second, enjoyed a two-shot lead at the turn but failed to capitalize on the back-nine and finally finished two strokes behind the winner in second position. His round included three birdies and three bogeys. Baisoya is currently second on the Feeder Tour Order of Merit.

Akshay Sharma of Chandigarh and Kapurthala’s Ashbeer Saini were tied third at two-over-212. Pune’s Moniuddin Malak was a further shot back in fifth place.

Chandigarh’s Rajinder ended up sixth with a four-over-214 total while another Chandigarh golfer Ranjit Singh claimed tied seventh place along with Angad Cheema of Panchkula at six-over-216.

Harmeet Kahlon of Chandigarh secured tied 29^th position with a three-day total of 15-over-225.